I'm ok with it in concept - we've been hooked on the disposable Chinese crack-train for way too long and it's a bad route to live on. That being said, on the flipside there has to be a developed program to fast track American manufacturing ramp up with construction permits, grants, tax abatements etc. The half asssed approach won't do anything but hurt everything.
Well, I do agree about some aspects of manufacturing. Trump has seen the issues with the US, but the way he has tackled it is crazy bad.
I mean, containing China's trade dominance... why not utilize American softpower and alliances with the countries we have been working with for the last 2 decades to isolate them? Instead we now have shunned every single ally we have that could help us lessen or isolate them. I mean Canada, Mexico, EU, and then in the region Asian , Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan....
Targeted tariffs are beneficial, but if we really wanted to bring back manufacturing here, why did we announce the tariffs first? We just made importing machinery and goods 30-100% more expensive for anybody who wants a factory. Instead of targeted tariffs, scheduled announcements of at least 1-2 years, tax credits, environmental regulation relaxations, implementing educational programs regarding manufacturing and "trade" work, such as machinists, tooling experts, etc....
What about our power grid? Simply put, I don't think Americans realize we are at max grid capacity for electricity. To build out some of these industrial supply chains, you need to basically double the electrical supply we have. Aluminum and raw material processing is some of the most energy intensive industrial processes mankind has invented.
Even simple stuff - we want to return to being a manufacturing powerhouse? Our logistical train grid is so fucking old, how will these goods be transported from inland to coasts and ports? The current train infrastructure won't even be able to handle the increase in shipped goods.
Bringing back manufacturing in a meaningful manner to cover our supply chain is not a 2 month process, it is close to a GENERATIONAL, 2 decade effort, with clear, targeted, strategic steps and goals.
Look at China. The programs they implemented step by step were put in from the 1990s. Almost 3 decades ago. Even in 2010, they were still considered "behind" on us, making cheap clothes and stuff in the supply chain that we wouldn't touch. But now in 2025....
And I'm just talking about some basic shit like making manufactured goods. I have no experience in stuff like producing pharmaceuticals, or crazy high end value added items such as semi conductors.
We forget that 5 decades ago, the cost of home appliances which were made in the US was equal to around $500-600, which turns out today to be $6000-7000, on "simpler" items. If we wanna do this path, then Americans should be fully prepared to cut their consumerism by 90%. No new phones, new cars, new appliances every year. So you require a "mindset" shift of the population as well. Not just a targeted government strategy..
