Input Stories

As manufacturers, policymakers, congressional leaders and business leaders convene in Washington, D.C., for the North American Manufacturing Conference, the NAM today released a new report underscoring that the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement is a foundation for manufacturing dominance in the U.S.—the most pro-U.S. manufacturing trade agreement in history, with exports to Mexico and Canada already supporting 2 million American jobs. With targeted improvements, the USMCA can deliver even more.

The report: “Built to Spec: USMCA Supports Millions of American Jobs and Drives U.S. Manufacturing Dominance” tells manufacturers’ stories about how much the USMCA has benefited their operations in the U.S.

• The report combines these stories with data on the depth of North American manufacturing integration. For example: the U.S., Mexico and Canada account for 30% of global GDP.

Their stories: Rheem Manufacturing said capital investments nearly quadrupled to $100 million following negotiation of the agreement, while Thermo Fisher Scientific recently announced a $2 billion U.S. investment that includes $1.5 billion to expand U.S. manufacturing operations.

• Manufacturers are also creating jobs and growing their workforce, with Amphenol Corporation noting it has “more jobs across our factories in the U.S. today than we had five years ago,” and Humtown adding “machines and personnel” to support increased exports to Canada and Mexico.
• The report features testimonials from manufacturing companies across different manufacturing sectors, including CNH, Unicorr, Advanced Superabrasives Inc., Brunswick Corporation, Dragonfly Energy, American Textile Company, Amphenol Corporation, Hydro, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dauch Corporation and more.

The benefits: Regardless of type or size, the companies cited in the report emphasized certain key advantages of the USMCA:

• Flexibility and speed through proximity
• Access to critical manufacturing inputs
• A unique co-production model that leverages regional assets
• Access to greater sales across North America and the world
• A larger talent pool to address workforce shortfalls in the U.S.
• Resiliency against global tensions

Other advantages: The landmark agreement also strengthened customs procedures, harmonized regulations, increased protections for intellectual property rights and delivered other pro-manufacturing improvements—making North America the most attractive region to manufacture and driving real gains for America’s manufacturers.
 
The NAM says: “The USMCA is a proven engine for America’s manufacturing strength, ensuring that more products bear the imprint ‘Made in America,’” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. 

• “Under President Trump’s signature trade agreement, manufacturers have moved production and investments away from Asia to the United States and the rest of the North American market. This report shows that the USMCA has been an anchor for manufacturing investment and expansion in the U.S.—supporting job creation and export growth to the region.”
• “In his first term, President Trump asked manufacturers to support the USMCA, and we have been proud to do so every step of the way. We partnered with the president and Congress to drive the USMCA into law and supported the negotiations to deliver a winning deal for the American people.”
• “We kept our promises to use the USMCA’s provisions to fortify the American supply chain, power more American jobs and drive more American growth. Now is our chance to double down on behalf of the American people. Let’s preserve the USMCA, strengthen it and lead with it—creating more jobs and expanding production for the United States.”

Dive deeper: Read the full report here.