Uptick in US Manufacturing

Companies are beginning to move production to the United States to avoid tariffs. “President Trump’s economic polices are simple: if you invest in and create jobs in America, you’ll be rewarded. We’ll lower regulations and reduce taxes,” Vice President J.D. Vance posted online. “But if you build outside of the United States, you’re on your own.”

Hyundai announced a massive $20 billion investment in the United States with plans to open plants in Georgia and Alabama. Around $5.8 million will go towards an updated steel plant that is expected to employ over 1,400 people. Hyundai believes it will soon produce over 1 million cars in America per year.

Eli Lilly is sending $27 million to the US economy as it enhances domestic pharmaceutical production, equating to a total of $50 billion in US manufacturing since 2020. Johnson & Johnson also plans to invest $55 billion in domestic drug manufacturing over the next four years and will build a new biologics facility in North Carolina.

GE Aerospace plans to invest $1 billion to “strengthen manufacturing and increase the use of innovative new parts and materials needed for the future of flight.” The company will increase operations across 16 states, with plans to hire 5,000 new employees.

Apple announced one of the largest investment plans to the tune of $500 billion over the next five years. The company plans to build advanced AI server manufacturing factory in Texas and will double the size of its Advanced Manufacturing Fund from $5 to $10 billion. Apple will need to fill over 20,000 new positions.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is set to invest $165 billion into creating new plants and R&D centers. Nvidia also plans to begin manufacturing highly desired semiconductor chips in the US over the next four years.

Tariffs are not helpful overall, but US manufacturing was at a standstill. The Inflation Reduction Act promised to fund the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was intended to expand American manufacturing, but regulation and an emphasis on clean energy initiatives drove business away. The Biden Administration had promised to add 1 million manufacturing jobs to the US but failed miserably. So far, there is a bit of success behind the push for US manufacturing and job creation, but the overall burden of tariffs will have a wider impact on the global economy. The latest ADP report shows a 21,000 increase in manufacturing jobs, but it is too early to know if the trend will continue.