“What we’re doing is urging caution — let things play out because all of the these changes are taking place,” Gov. Henry McMaster said.
AESC announced the suspension in construction of its plant in Florence on Thursday,
“Due to policy and market uncertainty, we are pausing construction at our South Carolina facility at this time,” the company’s statement said.
AESC promised to restart construction, although it didn’t say when, and vowed to meet its commitment to hire 1,600 workers and invest $1.6 billion. The company said it has already invested $1 billion in the Florence plant.
AESC has already rolled back its South Carolina plans. They announced a second factory on the Florence site, but then said earlier this year that their first plant should be able to handle BMW’s demand. That prompted South Carolina officials to withdraw $111 million in help they planned to provide.
The company is still getting $135 million in grants from the South Carolina Department of Commerce and $121 million in bonds and the agency said a construction pause won’t prompt them to claw back that offer.
McMaster told people to relax as state and business leaders are talking to Trump’s administration and things will work out.
“I think the goal of the president and the administration is to have robust economic growth and prosperity and there is no doubt there has to be changes made in our international trade posture and President Trump is addressing that,” McMaster told reporters Thursday.
