Business Briefs – May 15, 2018

Trump’s Bid to Help Chinese Firm Draws Fire But Raises Hopes

WASHINGTON (AP) – A long-running dispute between American regulators and Chinese telecom company ZTE may have handed President Donald Trump some unexpected leverage in avoiding a trade war with Beijing. Trade analysts say it’s highly unusual for a president to interfere in a case brought by the Commerce Department and to mix regulatory sanctions with trade negotiations. But they also note that Trump’s offer to rescue ZTE has the potential to clear the way for progress.

Race Is On to Set Up Europe’s Electric Car Charging Network

MUNICH (AP) – Some of Europe’s biggest automakers are out to remove the anxiety from the electric car consumer experience by building a highway network of fast charging stations. The idea is to let drivers plug in, charge in minutes instead of hours, and speed off on their way, from Norway to southern Italy and Portugal to Poland. Much is at stake for automakers Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler and Ford, who want to prepare the market for sales of their electric cars and compete with Tesla.

Immigration Crackdown Shifts To Employers as Audits Surge

WASHINGTON (AP) – Immigration officials have sharply increased audits of companies to verify that their employees are authorized to work in the U.S. That’s a sign the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration is reaching deeper into the workplace. An official says another nationwide wave of audits this summer will push the total for the fiscal year “well over” 5,000, more than double last year. Plans have been drafted for an expansive, long-term push to scrutinize employers more closely.