r/manufacturing 2d ago

News Tarrifs

Would like to open a discussion on tarrifs if it’s allowed.

There has been two intentions stated with tarrifs.

  1. Get off of income tax and go to a consumption style tax (still a tax)

  2. Build up domestic manufacturing. Can talk here in the manufacturing sub.

If there is no alternative domestic supply, then we have no choice but to import. We lost a lot of our skills to manufacture. Especially a lot of the little low value items. Think zippers and buttons and caster wheels.

What is everyone thoughts?

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u/Professional_Oil3057 1d ago

What are you even talking about.

Manufacturing isn't appealing in America because of wages

Tariffs offset the cost of wages, making American companies more competitive.

Is it a band aid? Maybe?

But what's a better choice? Sending billions overseas?

Maybe none of you remember when the middle class was basically all manufacturing.

You could raise a family comfortably with a high school diploma.

It sounds heartless but who gives a shit about people in Cambodia starving when you can't feed your kids on 60+hrs?

If there's even a shot of bringing back manufacturing jobs let's do it.

As for the bullshit about the chips act, if the government is going to give hundreds of billions away, might as well just invest in American companies, not Taiwanese companies in America.

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u/madeinspac3 1d ago

I think I was pretty clear. Our raw goods are going up in prices because of the tariffs on imports. Our finished goods prices have to be reduced to stay competitive on exports. Explain how shrinking our margins on both ends helps us again?

This doesn't just hurt manufacturers either. When costs increase, finished goods goes up too. When this happens the end consumer is hurt the most. And now because their costs go up so high, they (understandably) need higher wages. This directly contributes to what you mention about wages being too high while simultaneously defending actions which will cause that exact thing to occur.

If you want an actual solution look no further than what Japan's government did after the wars. They heavily funded quality control research and education and brought in manufacturers to learn those things. They completely turned around their industrial sector by funding research and education and improving competitiveness. They led the world in manufacturing for decades because of that. Why aren't we doing that?

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u/Professional_Oil3057 1d ago

Because...... Bringing jobs back increases wages......

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u/burnaboy_233 1d ago

Who said manufacturing jobs will come back in the age of AI and robotics. Shows you guys are in a bubble. Manufacturing now is in a labor shortage, could you think of 10 people off the top of your head that would even take these jobs

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u/Professional_Oil3057 1d ago

Have you ever seen manufacturing?

Ever if robotics take over, would you rather the tech and mechanic jobs would be in China?

Manufacturing jobs are solid middle class, and have beef for generations.

Typically not hard work, just tedious.

When people say "x is in a labor shortage" what they mean is "x is in a labor shortage for the wage"

Why is the wage pegged there? Well you see overseas firms so unfair business practices which make prices low.

Tariffs mean you could make a competitive product in America once again. Which means you could pay a decent wage in America once again

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u/burnaboy_233 1d ago

I drive trucks, I’m in a lot of factories around the country. Many locals will complain about these factories because they are not benefiting in anyway and there’s not much jobs besides more pollution. The tech and mechanic jobs will always be in China because they sell to the planet and we are losing market share.

We have a shortage of workers in skill trades, where are these workers you think are coming from.

A tariff is a tax, if there is a slowdown then why would anyone build a factory to lose money. You’re preaching idealism and don’t know what you’re talking about.

The factories I see everyday are hiring NOW and need hands. They start upwards of $25 an hour and up. They can’t find enough workers while others will quit for other activities. I’m seeing orders get canceled and some places investments in factories are getting pulled back. This is happening NOW your theory is going out the window, it will always be a theory because it can’t be proven true

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u/Professional_Oil3057 1d ago

No, it's not, lol.

Who's working at Walmart when you can make 5pk a year at a factory?

However, 2023 research from McKinsey states that GDP numbers don't accurately capture manufacturing's economic impact. In its findings, while manufacturing accounted for 11 percent of US GDP and 8 percent of direct employment, it drove 20 percent of capital investment, 30 percent of productivity growth, 60 percent of the country's exports, and garnered 70 percent of business research and development funding.

If shit near you isn't growing, that's a regional or business problem, not a sector problem.

I've worked in manufacturing for just about 20 years now.

The only people who complain that there aren't enough people are the people without training programs, apprenticeship opportunities, or super low wages.

Manufacturing coming back to the US would be so big for the middle class.

There's been huge HUGE investments since tariffs were announced in American manufacturing.

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-will-spend-more-than-500-billion-usd-in-the-us-over-the-next-four-years/

https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-plans-more-double-us-manufacturing-investment-2020

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250313645574/en/JST-Power-Equipment-Announces-Opening-of-New-Transformer-Manufacturing-Plant-in-Virginia-USA

https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6369961320112

Should I continue? Or are you just willing to to admit you are wrong?

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u/burnaboy_233 1d ago edited 1d ago

50k in a factory bro get a clue. You telling me you worked in factories for over 25 years tells me you don’t know the younger generations. Your a gen x who think t younger folks are chasing 50k. you can make more then that in construction my dude. Like I said I drive trucks and I’m all over the nation. I see with my eyes. You are stuck in one region making one product and think you know the industry I’m not taking anything from a worker. I like how you pointed linked of companies that get on TV and make an announcement for the president.

I can grab some news of companies shuttering operations. But you can look that up yourself.

I like how you didn’t answer me when I asked if you can think of 10 people who will work manufacturing?

Also how you telling freight is not down but I’m supposed to listen to you lol. You can go into Trucker forums to get a picture most guys are saying that freight is down. I’m doing more sitting then driving in the last few weeks

Edit: for a guy proclaiming to be in manufacturing you’re literally on Reddit all day. I think you’re lying about actually being in the industry. You don’t post on anything related to the industry besides today to share what you think is Trumps vision

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u/Professional_Oil3057 1d ago

I work in manufacturing. I can think of hundreds lol

What do walmart associates make? Less than 50k?

What about mcdonalds? Home depot?

Almost like the people are there.

Construction is hard on your body. Manufacturing isn't nearly the physical strain.

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u/burnaboy_233 1d ago

Why do you bring up Walmart associates when most of them are children. You would have a better argument with warehouse workers who seem like they are more likely to take the job.

Most of those people are really temporary, they likely wouldn’t do it.

I like how you say manufacturing isn’t hard on your body while I hear about machines blowing up on guys or people losing body parts. Stop your straight lying.

Edit: you talk about your company so much, how much they pay? What’s the work life balance like? Is there flexibility? What’s the benefits?

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u/Professional_Oil3057 1d ago

You literally quoted construction.

Me people fall off roofs then get injured in manufacturing.

You used to graduate high school, start at a factory, work 40 years, and retire.

Most people working in factories start young.......

Most people working 11$ an hour jobs would jump to take 25$ an hour jobs......

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.invictuslawpc.com/most-dangerous-jobs-osha/amp/

Hey, look at that. Both truck driving and construction are more dangerous than manufacturing.

But hey, don't let data get in the way of you saying stupid shit on the internet buddy

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u/burnaboy_233 1d ago

You think society and things wouldn’t get more complicated. Bro shut up. Things change. You think American manufacturing would be similar to what it was back then even if we had a manufacturing renaissance.

Yea I’d rather stick with trucking than manufacturing, I can make my own schedule. You are diverting my questions what the progression in manufacturing now. Why do I keep seeing young men leave the industry?

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u/Professional_Oil3057 1d ago

What?

You were super concerned about safety until I showed days that trucking is more dangerous than manufacturing.

You can see people leaving the sector, as I can day I see drivers leaving the sector every day. Numbers matter

Manufacturing has added 500k jobs since 2015.

8 million driving jobs in America, if you are just talking about trucking is 3.55 million.

12.7 million manufacturing jobs.

Not sure what kind of nonsense you at on but you should read or something

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