51�Թ���

Washington, D.C. –��Manufacturers continue to report a mixed bag of economic challenges, according to the��51�Թ��� Q4 2025 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey. As manufacturers began feeling the positive impacts of the tax bill and the president’s regulatory agenda on their business, optimism ticked up, but trade uncertainties loom, and health care costs continue to rise as a top concern for manufacturers.

“In line with the improvement in the outlook, companies expect most indices to improve marginally over the next 12 months,” said 51�Թ��� Chief Economist Victoria Bloom. “For example, manufacturers predict sales will increase 2.8%, up from 2.6% in Q3, and capital investments will grow 1.4%, up from 1.0% in the prior quarter. That said, while sentiment has improved, we are still below the historical average of 74%.”

Optimism rose 4.9 percentage points, with 69.9% of respondents reporting a positive outlook for their companies, up from 65.0% in Q3. Yet, in line with last quarter, trade uncertainties remained the top business challenge at 73.1%, with 80.3% of respondents reporting they have paid tariffs on imported manufacturing inputs since the start of the year. Additionally, rising health care and insurance costs rose to manufacturers’ second-highest business concern at 70.2%, with more than 94% of manufacturers expecting higher health insurance premiums in 2026, projecting an average jump of 11%. A weaker domestic economy and sales to U.S. customers ranked as the third-highest concern at 60.1%.

Other Key Survey Findings:

• A majority of manufacturers��(80.3%)��report paying tariffs on imported manufacturing inputs since the start of 2025, led by��58.6%��of respondents paying Section 232 tariffs,��52.1%��paying reciprocal tariffs on other countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and��50.0%��paying Section 301 tariffs on China.
• Tariffs are impacting manufacturers of all sizes, with��72.8%��of small and medium-sized manufacturers with fewer than 500 employees paying tariffs on inputs this year—alongside��97%��of large manufacturers.
• When it comes to hiring needs,��72.1%��of respondents cite skilled production workers (technicians, welders and machinists),��60.1%��point to core production workers (operators, assemblers and packaging) and��33.5%��say they need high-skilled, degreed workers (scientists, researchers and engineers).
• Climate disclosure regulations are costing manufacturers, with more than one-third��(38.2%)��of manufacturers subject to new international or state laws and regulations requiring disclosure of emissions and climate risks. Of those respondents,��91.6%��face increased reporting costs and are diverting funds from productive uses to pay these added costs.
• 82.3%��of respondents indicated it is important to their companies for Congress to pass legislation maintaining robust, multiyear infrastructure investment to support manufacturing.

The 51�Թ��� releases these results to the public each quarter. Further information on the survey is available��here.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.90 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51�Թ��� or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit��.

733 10th St. NW, Suite 700 • Washington, DC 20001 • (202) 637-3000

The bipartisan Incentivizing New Ventures and Economic Strength Through Capital Formation Act will build upon past legislative successes to “ensure that America’s public capital markets support business growth and job creation at small manufacturers across the country,” the 51�Թ��� U.S. House leadership recently.

What’s going on: The House of Representatives on Thursday voted 302–123 to approve the INVEST package, following advocacy by the 51�Թ��� and others.

• The more than 20 bills in the package previously advanced out of the House Committee on Financial Services, where they received strong support during markups from Republican and Democratic members alike.

What’s in it: The 51�Թ��� strongly supports the following measures in the INVEST Act:

• Section 105 (Advocating for Small Business), to establish Offices of Small Business in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Corporation Finance, Investment Management and Trading and Markets divisions
• Section 106 (Small Entities), to direct the SEC to conduct a study and rulemaking on the definition of ‘‘small entity’’ under the securities laws and direct the agency to consider small business impacts in future rulemakings
• Sections 201 and 203 (Expand Eligibility for Accredited Investor Status), to expand ways individual investors may qualify as “Accredited Investors” through a new exam, professional or educational credentials or inflation-adjusted net worth or income tests
• Sections 301 and 303 (Encouraging IPOs), to reduce registration requirements by allowing emerging growth companies to submit two years of audited financial statements instead of three and to direct the SEC to expand access to its testing-the-waters provisions to promote IPOs
• Section 305 (Middle Market IPO Cost), to direct the comptroller general to prepare a report on costs encountered by small and medium-sized companies during public offerings
• Section 306 (Expanding Well-Known Seasoned Issuer Eligibility), to enable smaller companies to qualify for WKSI status by decreasing the minimum market value threshold from $700 million to $400 million

The last word: “Manufacturers thank House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. French Hill (R-AR), Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) for their leadership on the INVEST Act. This bipartisan legislation will reduce regulatory burdens and enhance capital formation for the small and medium-sized manufacturers that fuel our economy,” the 51�Թ��� following the vote.

Global technology company Siemens is expanding its electrician and manufacturing-expert workforces significantly ().

What’s��going on:��“In response to the nation’s urgent need for a skilled and adaptable workforce, Siemens today announced an expansion of its workforce development partnerships to help train 200,000 electricians and manufacturing experts by 2030.”

How��they’ll��do it:��The firm will partner with��community colleges, trade groups, technical��programs��and industry leaders to create training pathways, including certifications and technical programs.

• The move is a key piece of Siemens’ larger plan to contribute to “U.S. reindustrialization.”

Why��it’s��happening:��Demand for skilled trades is exploding, according to Siemens, propelled��largely by��the rapidly expanding interest in and use of digital tools��and artificial intelligence.

• “[E]lectrician��jobs are expected to grow 9% from 2024 to 2034, well above the national average. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 81,000 openings are expected each year,��largely due to��retirements and career transitions.”
• The article cites a 2024����by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, the 51�Թ���’s 501(c)3 workforce development and education affiliate, which found the manufacturing sector will need up to 3.8 million workers by 2033—and half of those jobs��could go unfilled if current labor trends continue.

Now’s the time:�� “As the effort to reindustrialize our economy accelerates and a new industrial tech sector emerges, now is the time to build workforce development ecosystems with the scale and impact needed to prepare a new generation of AI-ready leaders in the skilled trades,” Siemens USA Interim President and CEO Ann Fairchild said in a��.

From the MI: “Manufacturers’ success will always rely on a skilled and capable workforce. Siemens’ commitment is a powerful example of the leadership and forward-thinking investment our sector needs,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee. “Programs like this help build and sustain the workforce our economy depends on.”

Sustainable construction leader Saint-Gobain North America thinks it may have a solution to the��nation’s��dearth of manufacturing talent: “a long-term program that brings modern manufacturing into the classroom and the classroom to the site floor”��().

What’s��going on:��In a recent op-ed, Saint-Gobain North America CEO Mark Rayfield discusses manufacturing’s status as a major economic engine—but says that to��maintain��that distinction, the sector “will need to fill 3.8 million manufacturing jobs over the next decade” (citing��a joint����from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, the 51�Թ���’s 501(c)3��workforce��development��and education affiliate).

• If current trends continue, 1.9 million roles could go unfilled, Rayfield continued, again citing the MI/Deloitte study.

Why��it’s��happening:��“For years, students have been steered toward four-year degrees, while trade careers, especially in manufacturing, have been overlooked or stigmatized,” Rayfield writes.

• In fact, just 12% of American students have��actually visited��a manufacturing facility,��.

The fix:��To fill those roles, Saint-Gobain North America recently launched the workforce development program “ ,” which “gives students a chance to explore immersive manufacturing environments with a focus on plant jobs that do not require an advanced degree,” according to the company.

• The company is already seeing some success from the program, Rayfield writes in Newsweek.
• “Across the country, we have already partnered with schools in North Carolina and Minnesota, and we will partner with over 10 additional high schools in Louisiana, Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Arkansas” this school year.

Why��it’s��working:��“Let them get into our factories and see our employees and see that it’s not your 1950s manufacturing job, where you’re hammering the same nut as it goes by,” Rayfield told�� .

• Manufacturing jobs “are��[artificial intelligence]-enabled, they’re tech-enabled, they’re Industry 4.0, they’re mechanical engineering jobs, and they’re extremely rewarding,” he added.

From the MI:��“Programs like Saint-Gobain’s show what’s possible when manufacturers open their doors and help students see modern manufacturing up close,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee. “These experiences don’t just change��perceptions;��they create pathways to meaningful careers and strengthen the workforce our industry needs to compete.”

The Manufacturing Institute—the��workforce development and education��affiliate of the 51�Թ���—has announced the two outstanding manufacturing��leaders��who will serve as��chair and��vice��chair of the��MI’s��STEP Ahead Awards.

• Biogen Executive Vice President, Head of Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology Nicole Murphy will serve as chair, and AstraZeneca Senior Vice President and Global Head of Pharmaceutical Technology and Development Dafni Bika will serve as vice chair.

The background: The STEP Ahead Awards honor remarkable women and allies in manufacturing, who are advancing the industry everywhere from the shop floor to the C-suite. Honorees are nominated by their colleagues for their exceptional leadership in their workplaces and communities.

The chair: With��more than��three decades of experience and leadership in the biopharmaceutical industry, Murphy is an expert in manufacturing operations, engineering,��chemistry,��manufacturing��and controls��process development��and regulatory,��quality and supply chain management.

• She has achieved improvements in safety and quality,��optimized��production processes��and helped ensure a��reliable supply of potentially lifesaving medicines for patients around the globe.
• Thanks to her strategic leadership and commitment to mentorship and talent development,��Murphy��has not only achieved impressive business results but also set up the next generation for further successes.

What she’s saying: “It is a tremendous honor to serve as��chair for the STEP��Ahead��Awards��program and to celebrate the remarkable women and allies who are shaping the future of manufacturing,”��said Murphy.

• “In today’s ever-evolving and high-paced manufacturing environment, it��is critical we recognize women��and allies��at all levels for their innovative spirit and leadership—they are building the talent pipeline of manufacturing leaders. I look forward to learning from their inspiring stories and recognizing the impact��they’re��having on manufacturing,��technology��and society.”

The vice chair: Bika also brings more than 25 years of experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, the��development��and commercialization of new��products��and digital innovation.

What she’s saying: “I’m honored to be appointed��vice��chair��of��the��MI’s 2026 STEP Ahead Awards,”��said Bika.��“This program recognizes��the��women��and allies��who are shaping the future of manufacturing with bold creativity and innovation.”

• “I’m��deeply committed to advancing and inspiring the next generation in STEM to pursue careers in our industry,��and I look forward to celebrating the remarkable��leaders��who will be honored next year.”

The MI says: “We are so��fortunate to have two��inspirational leaders—both��working at the cutting edge of biopharmaceutical manufacturing—agree to��lead and advise on the 2026 STEP Ahead Awards,”��said��MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee.

• “Both Nicole and Dafni��embody��all that manufacturing has to offer as a career path.��They are making these��opportunities visible��and inspiring��a future generation of��manufacturing��team��members.”

Stay tuned: The 2026��awardees��will be announced��ahead of��the STEP Ahead Awards Gala on April 23, 2026,��at��The Anthem��in Washington, D.C.

San Francisco on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against some of the nation’s biggest food and beverage manufacturers, accusing them of creating a public nuisance through deceptive marketing of ultra-processed foods (, subscription).

What’s going on:��“City Attorney David Chiu filed the lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court, alleging the companies employed tactics similar to those used by the tobacco industry to design and market products intended to addict consumers.”

• Chiu named Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez and six other firms in the suit, averring all broke “California laws on public nuisance and deceptive marketing.”
• The suit says that cancer, obesity and diabetes rates have risen in tandem with the proliferation of “ultra-processed” snack foods.
• The city is asking for “restitution and civil penalties to offset” health-care costs, as well as a court order stopping the companies from using “deceptive marketing” and mandating that they change their advertising practices.

However:��“The definition of ultra-processed foods remains under debate,” according to the article, and efforts underway by the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration to define the term could backfire, as the 51�Թ�������in October.

• The push could shift nutrition programs and policies away from food composition and toward subjective opinions about processing methods.

The 51�Թ��� says:��“Allegations of public nuisance against food and beverage manufacturers that fully comply with FDA safety and nutrition standards are an abuse of the legal system,” said 51�Թ��� Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Linda Kelly.

• “Frivolous and agenda-driven lawsuits do not improve public health or safety. Instead, they create confusion for consumers and undermine the regulatory certainty manufacturers need to provide safe and nutritious foods that are affordable and accessible for American families.”

51�Թ��� in the news:����covered the 51�Թ���’s comments.

Across two prominent panels at Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit in Las Vegas, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons, Johnson & Johnson Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Operations & Risk Officer and 51�Թ��� Board Chair Kathy Wengel and Manufacturing Institute President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee dug into how automation is impacting manufacturing—and the manufacturing workforce.

The kickoff: Addressing an audience of more than 2,500 business leaders and industry voices last month, Schneider Electric President of North America Operations Aamir Paul opened the summit by urging attendees to view the entire energy system “from grid to chip and chip to chiller” as an integrated whole.

• By modernizing the grid, upgrading buildings, accelerating electrification and digitization, preparing the workforce and integrating energy, automation and software, the industry will rise to meet the surging AI-driven demand, he continued.

Timmons and Wengel take the stage: Timmons and Wengel joined Dr. Tarika Barrett (CEO of Girls Who Code) and Adam Wickersham (vice president of information technology at El Paso Water) on an executive forum panel moderated by Roger Diwan of S&P Global, called “Automation: Shaping North America’s Competitive Future.”

• “Every successful economy—every country where quality of life is improving—has a strong manufacturing base [and] we’ve proven that for decades, if not centuries, in the U.S.,” Timmons said. “Maintaining that competitive edge is incredibly important if we want to continue improving peoples’ lives.”
• After discussing the four essential pillars of U.S. competitiveness—smart tax policy, regulatory modernization, permitting reform and workforce development—Timmons turned to the headwinds facing manufacturers: tariff uncertainty and rising input costs.
• On tariffs, Timmons touted the 51�Թ���’s proposal “to provide a speed pass to bring critical inputs [needed to build facilities in the U.S.] so we can grow manufacturing capacity in the U.S. without undercutting the broader tariff policy.”

Wengel talks policy: On the same panel, Wengel connected those policy debates to decisions inside a global health care company.

• “Regulatory policy has a huge impact on how our industry structures and evolves our manufacturing networks. Automation and intelligent automation are critical to optimizing the sites we already have and to designing new ones,” she said.
• In addition, “We make investments that last for decades, so we need policy certainty—starting with tax policy,” Wengel emphasized.
• Wengel also underscored that automation is intertwined with policy, saying, “We’re using [automation] to make the best long-term choices for our network—and ultimately, for patients.”

The workforce angle: Timmons and Wengel both stressed that automation and AI only succeed if the workforce is ready.

• “Our AI and digital journey affects everyone—from our CEO … to a mechanic on third shift at a plant anywhere in the world. … We’re transforming how we all work,” said Wengel.
• Timmons pointed to the MI’s work with programs like the , its multistate apprenticeship program, to help fill the 400,000 open jobs in manufacturing today. As he noted, that number is “projected to grow by around 2 million by 2033.”
• The good news, Timmons said, is that “over the last decade, manufacturers have started taking this challenge very seriously [and] the MI’s programs are scaling and having real impact.”

The MI talks workforce: During a closing session of the two-day summit, Lee reinforced Timmons’ and Wengel’s message, digging deeper into how the industry can attract, train and retain the manufacturing workforce. She moderated a panel that included David Long (CEO of the National Electrical Contractors Association), Neil Murray (CEO, real estate management services, JLL) and Greg Fischer (executive vice president of design, build and operations management, Jacobs), called “Workforce Strategies for the Next Energy Economy.”

• “I always say, ‘students can’t be what they can’t see,’” Lee said. “We all have jobs in our industries that no one outside would ever imagine exist, and we have to show those.”
• Highlighting the MI’s initiative, which trains military community members for industry careers, Lee noted that servicemembers don’t always realize that their skills align naturally with manufacturing jobs. “It feels obvious to us, but it hasn’t been obvious to them. So how you engage, translate that experience and bring it to life is essential.”
• Citing FAME, Lee commented that the program “trains regions on how to come together in partnerships to grow talent pools. Talent can’t be a zero-sum game. If one employer has all they need and no one else does, the region doesn’t succeed, and neither do we.”
• “Given the structural talent shortage we face, we have to think bigger than we have in the past,” Lee added.

The energy “volcano” moment: During a separate session, Mark Christie, former commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, warned that the U.S. is facing two crises: one of reliability, as power demand outpaces new generation, and one of affordability, as rising power prices mean “we are sleeping on a volcano,” he said, quoting Alexis de Tocqueville. “If we don’t acknowledge that, and try to control prices for customers, the political volcano will be extraordinary dangerous.”

• Christie stressed that tariffs directly raise the cost of poles, wires and transformers—and “those increases flow dollar for dollar into consumer rates.”
• Meanwhile, state policies can drive retail rates even higher. The affordability crisis is becoming “a political volcano,” he concluded.

Final words: Lee was speaking about the workforce shortage, but her words hold true for all challenges discussed at the summit: today, manufacturers “have to think bigger than we have in the past.”

The U.S. added more jobs than expected in September, but manufacturing employment declined for the fifth consecutive month, according to long-awaited employment data out today from the .

What’s going on: Nonfarm payrolls increased by 119,000 in September, higher than forecast, while manufacturing jobs slipped by 6,000.

• In addition, job gains for both July and August were revised downward to a gain of 72,000 positions and a loss of 4,000 positions, respectively, with the 12-month average now standing at a gain of 109,000 jobs per month.
• The unemployment and labor force participation rates each inched up 0.1%, to 4.4% and 62.4%, respectively.

Focus on manufacturing: Manufacturing’s collective job losses of 14,000 in July and August were revised downward to a loss of 24,000 positions.

• Employment in the industry has declined 94,000 over the year, the most of any sector.
• Durable goods manufacturing employment dipped by 4,000 in September, while employment in nondurable goods decreased by 2,000.
• The industry’s biggest gains were in beverage, tobacco and leather and allied product manufacturing, which added 3,300 jobs in September.

Earnings and workweeks: Average hourly earnings for all private, nonfarm payroll employees increased 0.2%, reaching $36.67.

• In the past 12 months, employee earnings have gone up 3.8%.
• The average workweek for all employees stayed the same at 34.2 hours, but for manufacturing workers, it moved down 0.1 hour to 39.9 hours.

On the October jobs front: This is the only jobs snapshot we will see until December, after the government shutdown prevented the BLS from collecting key data, according to the agency. The BLS will instead fold October payroll figures into the full November jobs report—without an unemployment rate for October ( ).

The Trump administration made a flurry of trade announcements late last week. We the most prominent among them—the announcement of four deals with Latin American countries—last week, but here are more pertinent details for manufacturers.

Latin America: On Thursday night, the White House issued joint statements describing key terms of framework agreements with��El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala��and��Argentina, which will be finalized “in the coming weeks.”

Tariffs on U.S. goods:��Ecuador and Argentina commit to��reduce or eliminate tariffs on specific U.S. exports. Guatemala and El Salvador��do not include tariff commitments��because the 2005 U.S. free trade agreement with Central America eliminated tariffs on U.S. exports.

• Ecuador:��Ecuador will reduce or eliminate tariffs in key sectors including machinery, health products, information and communication technology goods, chemicals, motor vehicles and certain agricultural products.
• Argentina:��Argentina will provide “preferential market access” for U.S. exports of certain medicines, chemicals, machinery, information technology products, medical devices, motor vehicles and agricultural products. The words “reduce” or “eliminate” are not used.

Nontariff barriers:��All four countries commit to address nontariff barriers particular to their markets, including:

• Streamlining regulatory approvals for pharmaceuticals and medical devices (Guatemala, El Salvador);
• Accepting U.S. auto standards (Guatemala, El Salvador);
• Implementing intellectual property rights obligations (Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, Argentina);
• Refraining from digital services taxes (Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador);
• Ending pre-shipment inspection mandates and expanding the Authorized Economic Operator program to include express delivery (Ecuador); and
• Accepting U.S. standards and conformity assessment (Argentina).

Switzerland and Liechtenstein: The president����a framework on Friday for a trade deal with Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein focused on tariffs and investments into the U.S. and a commitment to work on nontariff barriers. Key elements include the following:

• Matching the EU 15% IEEPA rate:��The U.S. will reduce Switzerland’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act rate to a maximum of 15%, the same as the European Union. Switzerland has made promises to reduce its trade surplus with the U.S.
• Market access for U.S. exports:��Switzerland and Liechtenstein “intend to remove a range of tariffs across agriculture and industrial sectors.”
• Investments:��Swiss and Liechtenstein companies will invest at least $200 billion into the U.S., “with at least $67 billion worth of investment occurring in 2026.” Important to the Swiss was to partner to increase the use of Registered Apprenticeships and other training programs in key high-growth sectors, including learning from and collaborating with 51�Թ��� workforce initiatives.
• Nontariff barriers:��Switzerland and Liechtenstein intend to address a range of nontariff barriers, including for U.S. medical devices and autos, and to identify and align international standards to improve access for U.S.-manufactured goods exports. They also agreed to “refrain from harmful digital services taxes.”

What’s next:��The U.S., Switzerland and Liechtenstein will work to conclude negotiations in early 2026.

South Korea: In July, the U.S. and Korea announced a Korea Strategic Trade and Investment deal. Last week, the White House posted a����outlining its elements.

IEEPA tariffs:��Under the U.S.–Korea FTA (KORUS), Korea already applied zero duties on U.S. goods. Under this deal, the U.S. will do the following:

• Cap the IEEPA Reciprocal rate at 15%, but some goods receive zero or Most Favored Nation rate:��The U.S. affirms the IEEPA rate for Korea will be the higher of either the KORUS rate or the U.S. MFN rate or the IEEPA tariff rate of 15%.
• Apply Annex III exemptions to Korea:��The U.S. will apply MFN to the products on the list of Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners (Annex III), which include generic pharmaceuticals, ingredients and chemical precursors and certain natural resources unavailable in the United States.

Section 232 tariffs:��Foreshadowing forthcoming approaches to the pharmaceutical and semiconductor Section 232 investigations, the U.S. agreed to do the following:

• Reduce Section 232 tariffs on autos/parts and timber/lumber:��The U.S. affirms the Section 232 rate for Korea will be reduced from 25% to 15%, inclusive of KORUS and MFN, for autos, auto parts, timber, lumber and wood.
• Reduce any Section 232 tariff on pharmaceuticals to 15%:��Prospectively, the U.S. will cap any forthcoming Section 232 tariff on Korean pharmaceuticals at 15%.
• Secure favorable terms for imports of semiconductors:��For any Section 232 tariffs imposed on semiconductors, including semiconductor manufacturing equipment, the U.S. “intends to provide terms for such Section 232 tariffs on Korea that are no less favorable than terms that may be offered in a future agreement��covering a volume of semiconductor trade at least as large as Korea’s, as determined by the U.S.” It’s unclear if this foreshadows a type of tariff-rate quota.

Read more: You can find a complete list of relevant features .

Washington, D.C. – 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons issued the following statement on��the latest trade deals.��

“Today, President Trump, Secretary Bessent��and Ambassador Greer delivered a major win for the American people with trade deals that keep the products that power daily life—like coffee,��bananas��and cocoa—affordable for working families and manufacturers.��That’s��something to celebrate. Today’s announcement will empower companies in the food and beverage supply chain to bring certain critical ingredients and inputs to the United States��in order to��enable and expand production at home.��

“The U.S. is the strongest manufacturing power in the world, and thanks to this administration, manufacturers have made bold investments to enhance our ability to produce the essential inputs on our own shores. But just as coffee primarily must be produced elsewhere, the same is true for a range of critical manufacturing inputs and machinery that keep our factories humming and��determine��whether the next manufacturing dollar is spent in America. Americans run on coffee—and America’s manufacturers run on indispensable materials,��machinery��and equipment.��

“We’ve��had productive conversations with the administration about applying this principle, using the��51�Թ���’s U.S. Manufacturing Investment Accelerator Program, to essential manufacturing inputs—such as the critical minerals, industrial machinery and materials that drive our economy and strengthen our long-term ability to make more things in America. ��

“Even at full industrial capacity, the U.S. can only produce about 84% of the inputs manufacturers need—meaning at least 16% must be imported for us to build more here at home.��That’s��why��we’ve��offered practical, pro-growth solutions that allow manufacturers to bring in non-domestically produced inputs without adding��new cost��burdens—while rewarding companies that invest, expand��and create jobs in America.��

“Manufacturers are expanding capacity in America, and increasing domestic production will strengthen our industrial base and our national security. But tariffs on essential manufacturing inputs raise costs on factory floors, slow investment in new equipment��and risk undercutting the��president’s efforts to boost U.S. manufacturing output and jobs.��

“The��president’s tax, regulatory and energy dominance agendas are designed to stimulate manufacturing investment and job creation here in America. Empowering manufacturers to bring needed inputs, equipment and machinery to America’s shores would supercharge that investment, ensure the success of the��president’s agenda and bring new prosperity and opportunity to communities from coast to coast.”��

-51�Թ���-��

The 51�Թ��� is the largest manufacturing association in the United States,��representing��small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs��nearly��13��million men��and women, contributes��$2.90 trillion��to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51�Թ��� or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit .��