In a factory in Hekinan, a seaside town southwest of Tokyo, machines spit hot metal rods into baskets. On a recent Monday, afternoon light poured in through yellowed windows, and the air inside was hot and smelled of metal shavings.
The plant, operated by an 84-year-old Japanese automotive parts maker, Asahi Tekko, produces components that are fitted into Lexus and Land Cruiser models at nearby Toyota factories. Many of those vehicles are then shipped to the United States.
For decades, the route has been one of many supply lines that underpin the automotive industry. Now, however, it is a source of unease for Asahi Tekko, as the company grapples with recent fluctuations in U.S. trade policies.
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