ECONOMY
Trump closes in on Fed pick
President Trump said he will soon decide among five finalists for the next Federal Reserve chairman. The short list of names includes former Fed governor Kevin Warsh, Stanford University economist John Taylor, current Fed governor Jerome Powell, National Economic Council director Gary Cohn and the current chairwoman, Janet Yellen, according to people familiar with the process. ‘‘Within those five you’ll probably get the answer,’’ he told reporters Tuesday. ‘‘Honestly I like them all, I do,’’ Trump said. ‘‘I have a great respect for all of them.’’ Trump’s selection will be unveiled before he leaves Nov. 3 for an 11-day trip to Asia and Hawaii, a person familiar with the process said earlier Tuesday. Trump has already interviewed some of the candidates and plans to interview Yellen on Thursday. Her current term ends in February. The post is subject to confirmation by the Senate, a process that can take months to complete. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
ENERGY
Pipeline protesters able to cite climate change in defense
A Minnesota judge has taken the unusual step of allowing four protesters to use a ‘‘necessity defense,’’ enabling them to present evidence the threat of climate change is so imminent they were justified in trying to shut down two oil pipelines last year. Two of the defendants, Emily Johnston and Annette Klapstein, go on trial in December for shutting two pipeline valves in northwestern Minnesota in October 2016, part of a coordinated action against five pipelines that import tar sands crude oil from Canada. A total of 11 activists were charged, with one, Michael Foster, facing up to 21 years in prison after being convicted Oct. 6 in a case where his judge barred him from a necessity defense. Clearwater County District Judge Robert Tiffany said the defendants ‘‘must show that the harm that would have resulted from obeying the law would have significantly exceeded the harm actually caused by breaking the law, there was no legal alternative to breaking the law, the defendant was in danger of imminent physical harm, and there was a direct causal connection between breaking the law and preventing the harm.’’ — ASSOCIATED PRESS
AIRLINES
Officers involved in dragging United passenger are fired
The Chicago Department of Aviation has fired two security officers who were involved in an incident in which a passenger was dragged off a United Airlines flight after refusing to give up his seat. Officials say one of those officers, a sergeant, also was part of an attempt to cover up some details of the incident that happened in April at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Four officers were involved in the incident involving passenger David Dao, who had been aboard a flight to Louisville, Ky. The department suspended the two other officers. The city’s Office of Inspector General said in a report released Tuesday that as a result of its findings and recommendations, the Aviation Department fired an officer who ‘‘improperly escalated the incident’’ and a sergeant involved in removing facts from a report. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
RETAIL
US retailers predict ‘economic catastrophe’ if NAFTA negotiations fail
With Canada and Mexico firmly rejecting US demands on dairy, autos, and other areas, the retail industry group that represents companies including Gap Inc. and VF Corp. said the collapse of the trade agreement would be an “economic catastrophe.’’ The Retail Industry Leaders Association added that NAFTA’s downfall would incur “massive’’ disruptions in agriculture and manufacturing as well as higher costs for US consumers. “We cannot afford for the United States to abandon free trade,’’ Hun Quach, the group’s head of trade policy, said in an e-mailed statement. Mexico and Canada have repeatedly and publicly denounced US demands as the fourth round of talks concludes. NAFTA currently lets manufacturers — such as garment makers — create cross-border supply chains in which parts of a final product are sourced from different countries before being assembled in a final location. President Trump’s musings about ending the accord have sparked public warnings from US lawmakers and the private sector about the perils of dismantling a decadeslong trade deal that has helped the region’s trade balloon to $1.2 trillion annually. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
ENTERTAINMENT
Weinstein leaving board of the company he started
Harvey Weinstein is leaving the board of the film company he started, more than a week after the firm fired him following allegations of sexual harassment and rape. A person close to Weinstein who was not authorized to speak publicly about events at the company’s board meeting said Tuesday that he resigned. Weinstein holds a roughly 20 percent stake in his company, according to this person, who declined to comment on the future of that holding. Industry players have cut ties, or threatened to cut ties, with The Weinstein Co. in the aftermath of the abuse allegations. Board member Tarak Ben Ammar said Monday that it was negotiating a potential sale of all or part of the company. Company representatives did not immediately respond to questions. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
ENTERTAINMENT
Amazon Studios head leaves amid harassment allegations
Roy Price, the head of Amazon Studios, has resigned from his position amid allegations that he sexually harassed a producer of one of the company’s most high-profile shows. An Amazon Studios spokesman on Tuesday confirmed Price’s resignation. It follows his suspension by the company last week. Isa Hackett, a producer on ‘‘The Man in the High Castle,’’ described the 2015 encounter in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter on Thursday. She told the outlet that she was ready to talk about the ‘‘shocking and surreal’’ episode following bombshell reports detailing sexual harassment and assault allegations made against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. ‘‘I think women inspire each other. I feel inspired by the other women who have been far braver than I am, who have come forward,’’ Hackett said. ‘‘I hope we all continue to inspire each other and ultimately create change.’’ According to Hackett, Price and she had been promoting the ‘‘The Man in the High Castle’’ at Comic-Con in San Diego and shared a cab with another Amazon executive who has since left the company. Hackett told the Reporter that Price relentlessly propositioned her. — WASHINGTON POST
RETAIL
Tommy Hilfiger marketing clothing line for people with disabilities
Clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger is going after a largely untapped market: people with disabilities. The fashion brand owned by PVH Corp. is launching an adult clothing line with adjusted seams and openings that allow caretakers to dress the wearer — a move to build on a collection it created for kids last year. The company also has added magnetic closures to the clothes, making it easier to pull them over the head or get dressed with one hand. Making clothes for disabled shoppers may seem like a niche market, but there are millions of potential customers in the United States and around the world — and they get short shrift from most brands. Hilfiger, 66, described the effort as part of “the democratization of fashion.’’ The so-called adaptive clothing line, unveiled Tuesday, consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based on its sportswear collection. Pants will have Velcro closures and magnetic flies and zippers, as well as adjusted leg openings and hems that accommodate leg braces and orthotics. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
