An NBC News article reported that amid President Donald Trump’s tariffs, several major companies—including toolmaker Stanley Black & Decker—are considering raising prices to offset rising costs. This move comes at a time when tariffs are being used as a tool by an authoritarian administration, risking increased financial burden on consumers and potentially exacerbating economic inequality.

The OpenSecrets profile for Stanley Black & Decker highlights their political contributions and lobbying activities for the 2024 cycle, including $285,064 in contributions and $1,840,000 in lobbying expenditures, with 14 of 19 lobbyists having previous government experience, raising concerns about revolving door practices.

Stanley Black & Decker is repositioning its supply chain and cutting China production in response to tariffs imposed by President Trump, with the CEO stating continued engagement with the Trump administration to support their goals, according to a Q4 earnings call on February 5, 2025.

In response to new tariffs and in a bid to navigate shifting global trade policies, Stanley Black & Decker announced plans to further reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing. During a recent earnings call, the company’s executives revealed plans to continue its strategic shift away from China while actively engaging with key figures in the Trump administration to provide input on trade policy. The report also noted concurrent cost‐cutting measures including plant closures and layoffs.

FEC filings show that the Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. Political Action Committee has raised $41,108.38 and disbursed $67,833.32. This data reflects the company’s engagement in formal political funding channels through a corporate PAC, a tool often used to influence political policy and decision-making.

The U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA cited Stanley Black + Decker for several safety violations, including failure to provide required personal protective equipment and proper lockout/tagout procedures during electrical maintenance, which contributed to a maintenance electrician suffering severe burns. The company faces approximately $222K in penalties following an inspection initiated on December 20, 2023.

In December 2023, Stanley Black & Decker faced a Department of Labor fine of approximately $222,392 after safety lapses at its Willard, Ohio facility nearly resulted in a worker suffering severe burns from an electrical arc blast during industrial oven repairs. The incident highlights critical failures in workplace safety protocols and labor protection measures.

On August 6, 2020, members of the Security Division of Local 3, IBEW, employed by Stanley Black & Decker in New York and New Jersey ratified a new 3-year contract after challenging negotiations conducted via video conferencing during the pandemic.