*

Some firms put off shipments after earlier speeding up

orders

*

Tariffs add cost and chaos, says Ford CEO

*

Coca-Cola could shift imports to rely more on plastic

(Adds share prices in paragraphs 6 and 11)

By Nora Eckert, Allison Lampert and Ernest Scheyder

DETROIT/MONTREAL/HOUSTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Executives

across industries reliant on steel and aluminum imports were

scrambling to offset the cost of Donald Trump's move to slap 25%

tariffs on those key metals after previous tariff threats from

the White House that were later scrapped.

Companies ranging from Coca-Cola and Ford to smaller

aluminum, aerospace and appliance firms expect to be affected by

U.S. President Donald Trump's moves, which Ford CEO Jim Farley

said have so far added "a lot of cost and a lot of chaos" to

American business. The tariffs, announced Monday, are expected

to go into effect in mid-March.

But the White House's frequent threats of various shapes and

sizes have left executives, investors and consumers unsettled,

leaving them unclear whether the latest salvos will come to

pass, or whether exemptions could be carved out for companies

that lobby Trump.

"There's so much we don't know. We don't know if they will

go in place. We don't know if there will be exemptions at all,"

said David Gitlin, CEO of appliance maker Carrier Global ( CARR )

, on the company's earnings conference call Tuesday.

U.S. businesses have warned of fallout from tariffs, with

many manufacturing companies finding it difficult to plan next

steps. Executives are employing a number of strategies,

including changing their mix of imports or passing on costs to

consumers outright.

Coca-Cola, for instance, said it could shift its

imports to rely more on plastic bottles if aluminum cans become

more expensive. Fragrance company Coty ( COTY ) said it has

boosted U.S. inventories and is increasing production of

fragrances in North Carolina. Shares rose 3.6% on Tuesday.

Ford is considering areas in which it can build up

inventory to prepare for potential 25% tariffs on imports from

Mexico and Canada, executives said Tuesday. Trump planned to

initiate those duties earlier this month, before delaying them

until March. A similar move against Colombia in January was

dropped after about 12 hours.

'A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY'

Toby Gauld, president of Optima Aero, a Canadian-based

company with divisions in the U.S. and France that supplies used

parts for helicopters, said he is holding off on a $500,000

purchase from the United States due to concerns over possible

tariffs and retaliatory duties since the equipment will not be

available for eight months.

"Eight months from now is a lot of uncertainty," he said.

Across-the-board tariffs against all aluminum and steel

would leave companies without the option of shifting imports

from countries with lower U.S. duties. Trump's goal is to boost

U.S. output of aluminum and steel, industries the nation once

dominated. U.S. demand for aluminum in 2024 was 4.3 million

metric tons, and it imported 3.7 million metric tons, according

to federal data.

Chicago-based Century Aluminum ( CENX ), which operates

several U.S. aluminum smelters, said it strongly supports

tariffs. "President Trump's decisive action will protect

national security and help level the playing field for America's

aluminum workers," said Century CEO Jesse Gary. The company's

stock rose 7% on Tuesday.

But some U.S. companies urged Trump to consider the

long-term effect of tariffs on the metals industry.

"There needs to be a long-term strategy to increase the

amount of aluminum produced in the U.S. so we can be closer to

self-sufficiency," said Brian Hesse, CEO of New York-based

PerenniAL, a privately held distributor of slab, wire rod and

billet produced with aluminum used to make wheels, window frames

and other products.

He said any price increase that PerenniAL faces due to

tariffs would ultimately reach the average consumer, he said.

Consumers are noticing. Consumer sentiment dropped to a

seven-month low in February and inflation expectations soared,

according to University of Michigan data.

Garry Douglas, president and CEO of the North Country

Chamber of Commerce, said stockpiling is picking up, based on

conversations with more than 40 regional manufacturers and

warehouse operators in recent weeks.

Container shipments hit a record in January, while

cross-border truck traffic from Canada and Mexico was busier in

December 2024 than the previous two Decembers, according to

federal data.

"There is no ability to suddenly substitute domestic

supplies, particularly with aluminum with more than half coming

from Quebec," he said.