Posted on 5/29/25 2:19 PM
Americans have a reputation for having a down-to-business and self-reliant work ethic that started during its first Colony in Virginia (1607), to its thirteenth Colony (Georgia, 1732). Forty-four years later, Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and self-reliance was on a roll. Once the war was over, America began to export its goods, and its first tariff was enacted by the First Continental Congress in 1789 “ . . . to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imports and Excises . . . to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations," which was signed into law by George Washington. Tariffs have been used throughout U.S. history—the U.S. government was funded by tariffs until 1913. After that, it was a combination of taxes and tariffs.
To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, Americans are resilient, and they never quit. So, what happens if American manufacturing booms again?
What’s the Value in Buying American?
- More jobs for more Americans.
- A smoother, faster domestic supply chain with multiple seaports and ground transport running 24/7.
- American wages get recycled back into America’s economy.
- Higher quality products replace lower quality products.
- More rigorous safety agency testing (UL) and product inspections than many other countries.
- Unpaid/striking workers overseas may skip processes to meet quotas.
Does “American Made” Mean Americans Work Harder or Longer?
This distinction lies not in the work itself—using a computer, a jackhammer, or driving a truck—but is determined by how many hours and days are spent at work. More work equates to more mental and physical toll on the human brain and body no matter where you live. Americans rank toward the top of the list for most hours worked in a workweek.
Generally speaking, do Americans work more days? According to the microcosm of sources listed below, they likely do. “Work hard, play hard” has been part of the vernacular since the turn of the twentieth century. However, what separates the U.S. from the EU and many other countries is its “vacation days” or “time off” is not codified as in many countries—most U.S. companies offer reasonable to generous vacation days—it’s just not controlled by the government as it is in many countries. While worker protection laws are codified in the U.S., vacation days are not. It has been said, “In France, they take the entire month of August off.” This could be true, as French workers get 42 vacation and paid holiday leave.
When it comes to paid leave, there is no distinction between rich and poor countries. In Austria, for example, after 25 years of service employees are given 49 days of paid leave not counting the sick time they receive. Less than 25 years, Austrian workers still get 38 days of paid leave. Mexico allows 19 days of paid leave. Russian workers get 42 days while Chinese workers get 11. The majority of the EU is well into the 30s and 40s for days of paid leave.
Eighty to 90% of American workers get time off, but it is left to the employer unless you work for the government. Most private companies, depending on how long you’ve been there, give between 1 and 4 weeks of paid leave each year, and between 3-6 days of national holidays. However, American federal and state government workers are entitled to 12 additional holidays. (Statistics provided by World Population Review, Forbes, and NPR.)
While no one knows the future, multiple large corporations and smaller companies have made commitments to the American manufacturing sector which are listed below:
Investment Commitments to American Manufacturing as of May 2025
|
Company |
Investment |
Sector |
Investment Focus |
|
UAE (Foreign Investment) |
$1.4 Trillion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Technology, aerospace and energy |
|
Qatar (Foreign Investment) |
$1.2 Trillion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Technology and manufacturing |
|
Saudi Arabia (Foreign Investment) |
$600 Billion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Technology and manufacturing |
|
Softbank, OpenAI, and Oracle |
$500 Billion |
Technology & AI |
AI infrastructure (Project Stargate) |
|
NVIDIA |
$500 Billion |
Technology & AI |
AI infrastructure and supercomputers |
|
Apple |
$500 Billion |
Technology & AI |
Manufacturing and training |
|
IBM |
$150 Billion |
Technology & AI |
Growth and manufacturing operations |
|
TSMC |
$100 Billion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Semiconductor fabrication facility in Phoenix, Arizona |
|
Johnson & Johnson |
$55 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Manufacturing, R&D, and technology |
|
Genentech (Roche) |
$50 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Manufacturing and R&D |
|
Bristol Myers Squibb |
$40 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Manufacturing, R&D, and technology |
|
Eli Lilly and Company |
$27 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Manufacturing capacity expansion |
|
ADQ and Energy Capital Partners |
$25 Billion |
Energy & Environment |
Data centers and energy infrastructure |
|
Novartis |
$23 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Manufacturing facility expansion |
|
Hyundai |
$21 Billion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Steel plant and other investments |
|
DAMAC Properties |
$20 Billion |
Real Estate Development |
Data center expansion |
|
CMA CGM |
$20 Billion |
Transportation & Logistics |
Shipping and logistics |
|
VentureGlobal |
$18 Billion |
Energy & Environment |
Expansion of transportation equipment |
|
Gilead Sciences |
$11 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Manufacturing and research technology |
|
AbbVie |
$10 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
U.S. manufacturing expansion |
|
Merck |
$9 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
U.S. manufacturing |
|
Clarios |
$6 Billion |
Energy & Environment |
Manufacturing expansion and innovation acceleration |
|
Pratt Industries |
$5 Billion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Manufacturing expansion |
|
Stellantis |
$5 Billion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Manufacturing network |
|
Amazon |
$4 Billion |
Ecommerce & Cloud Computing |
AI expansion in cloud division |
|
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals |
$3 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Drug production facility |
|
Boeing |
$3 Billion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Advanced aerospace manufacturing facilities |
|
Kraft Heinz |
$3 Billion |
Food & Beverage |
Upgrade manufacturing facilities |
|
NorthMark Strategies |
$2.8 Billion |
Technology & AI |
Supercomputing facility |
|
Kimberly-Clark |
$2 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Advanced manufacturing and distribution facilities |
|
Thermo Fisher Scientific |
$2 Billion |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Manufacturing operations and innovation |
|
Chobani |
$1.7 Billion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Dairy processing plant in New York |
|
Corning, Inc. |
$1.5 Billion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Solar component plant in Michigan |
|
LF Energy |
$1.4 Billion |
Energy & Environment |
Stationary storage cell manufacturing |
|
Honda |
$1 Billion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Manufacturing operations |
|
Anduril |
$1 Billion |
Defense |
Modern warfare |
|
GE Aerospace |
$1 Billion |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Manufacturing across 16 states |
|
Amgen |
$900 Million |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Manufacturing operations |
|
Schneider Electric |
$700 Million |
Energy & Environment |
Energy infrastructure |
|
GE Vernova |
$600 Million |
Technology & AI |
Manufacturing |
|
AIP Management |
$500 Million |
Technology & AI |
Solar developer investment |
|
Abbott Labs |
$500 Million |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Manufacturing expansion in Illinois and Texas |
|
Diageo |
$415 Million |
Food & Beverage |
Manufacturing in Alabama |
|
The Bel Group |
$350 Million |
Food & Beverage |
Production facilities in SD, Idaho, & Wisconsin |
|
Eaton Corporation |
$340 Million |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Transformers facility in South Carolina |
|
Anheuser-Busch |
$300 Million |
Food & Beverage |
Manufacturing operations |
|
Siemens |
$285 Million |
Technology & AI |
AI data centers and manufacturing |
|
Clasen Quality Chocolate |
$230 Million |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Production facility in Virginia |
|
Fiserv |
$175 Million |
Technology & AI |
Strategic fintech hub |
|
Paris Baguette |
$160 Million |
Food & Beverage |
Manufacturing plant in Texas |
|
Siemens Healthineers |
$150 Million |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
New manufacturing facilities for R&D |
|
TS Conductor |
$134 Million |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Advanced conductor manufacturing in South Carolina |
|
ABB |
$120 Million |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Low-voltage product expansion in Tennessee and Mississippi |
|
Saica Group |
$110 Million |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Packaging manufacturing in Indiana |
|
Charms, LLC |
$97.7 Million |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Expansion in Tennessee |
|
Toyota Motor Corporation |
$88 Million |
Transportation & Logistics |
Hybrid production in West Virginia |
|
Sygene International |
$36.5 Million |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Biologics facility in Baltimore |
|
Asahi Group Holdings |
$35 Million |
Food & Beverage |
Production boost in Wisconsin |
|
Hitachi Energy |
$22.5 Million |
Energy & Environment |
Transformer Production in Virginia |
|
Cyclic Materials |
$20 Million |
Energy & Environment |
Rare earth elements recycling in Arizona |
|
Guardian Bikes |
$19 Million |
Manufacturing & Industry |
Bike frame manufacturing in Indiana |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LGM Pharma |
$6 Million |
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
Manufacturing facility expansion in Texas |
Topics: USA Made Products, manufacturing