Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-06-09 01:21Core Viewpoint - A significant lobbying effort by multinational companies is underway to oppose Clause 899 of Trump's tax reform, which is perceived as a potential threat to millions of American jobs and could reshape international capital flows [1][2]. Group 1: Impact on Employment and Investment - Approximately 840,000 jobs in the U.S. are provided by foreign companies, and the implementation of Clause 899 could directly threaten this substantial employment base [2]. - The lobbying effort involves around 70 company representatives, including major firms like Shell, Toyota, SAP, and LVMH, indicating widespread concern among foreign investors [1][2]. Group 2: Tax Implications of Clause 899 - Clause 899 is viewed as a "capital expulsion order" that would allow the U.S. to impose additional taxes on companies and investors from countries deemed to have "unfair foreign tax policies" [2][3]. - The clause would increase U.S. tax rates on stock dividends and certain corporate bond interests by 5 percentage points annually over four years, and it would also tax sovereign wealth funds' U.S. investment portfolios, which are currently exempt [3]. Group 3: Financial Market Concerns - The implementation of Clause 899 is expected to disrupt foreign direct investment and could lead to financial market volatility, as highlighted by the International Bankers Association [3]. - In 2023, foreign banks lent over $1.3 trillion to U.S. companies, supporting $5.4 trillion in foreign direct investment and generating $270 billion in revenue, underscoring the importance of foreign capital in the U.S. economy [3]. Group 4: Legislative Outlook - Despite the potential to raise $116 billion for the U.S. government over the next decade, there are concerns that the overall tax reform could increase U.S. debt by $2.4 trillion by 2034 [4]. - There is a growing momentum in the Senate to repeal Clause 899, as lawmakers recognize that it contradicts the government's goal of attracting more investment to the U.S. [4].