Why Manufacturing Is So Hard In The U.S.
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Today, a little over 12.7 million Americans work in manufacturing. But in the 1970s, that number was nearly 20 million. Over the years, globalization and lowered trade barriers have resulted in cheaper labor abroad and closed factories in America. But as President Trump pushes to revitalize manufacturing through tariff policy, economists and trade experts are divided on whether a manufacturing renaissance makes sense for the U.S., which has evolved to a service-based economy. Others say the benefits of onshoring go beyond price: shorter shipping times, better quality control, and supply chain agility, among other advantages. To better understand the challenges and possibilities of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., CNBC visited a Midwestern bike maker shifting its supply chain from China to the U.S. Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction 1:53 – Guardian Bikes 5:20 – U.S. manufacturing decline 10:37 –Finding workers Producer: Merritt Enright Editor: Andrea Miller Camera: Lucas Mullikin Animation: Emily Park Senior Managing Producer: Shawn Baldwin Senior Director of Video: Lindsey Jacobson, Jeniece Pettitt Additional footage: Getty images » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision » Watch CNBC on the go with CNBC+: https://www.cnbc.com/WatchCNBCPlus About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more. Want to stand out, grow your network, and get more job opportunities? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It's new online course, How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In Person, and At Work. Sign up today with coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off the regular course price of $67 (plus tax). Offer valid through September 2, 2025: https://cnb.cx/4nUBgbA Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: https://www.cnbc.com/ Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC Follow CNBC News on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC Follow CNBC on Threads: https://cnb.cx/threads Follow CNBC News on X: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow CNBC on WhatsApp: https://cnb.cx/WhatsAppCNBC #CNBC Why Manufacturing Is So Hard In The U.S.
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