Companies leaving US will face consequences: Trump

United States President-elect Donald Trump has warned American firms wanting to relocate abroad that they will face punishment, as he announced a deal with air conditioning manufacturer Carrier to keep jobs in the country.

"Companies are not going to leave the United States any more without consequences. Not going to happen," Trump told workers at the Carrier plant in Indianapolis in his first major public remarks since winning the White House.

"They can leave from state to state, and negotiate deals with different states, but leaving the country will be very, very difficult," Trump added.

During the presidential campaign, the Republican billionaire threatened to slap tariffs on firms that decamped for places like Mexico or Asia where labour costs are cheaper. It became a repeated refrain of his victorious campaign. -- AFP