The US’ missing manufacturing renaissanceBy Scott Lincicome / Bloomberg OpinionUS manufacturing ended last year with a thud, capping a rough year for the sector. Overall, the evidence revealed a sector that is stagnant at best, and a long way from the manufacturing renaissance US President Donald Trump promised when he took office for a second time a year ago. Better tax, regulatory and monetary policies should indeed provide a tailwind for manufacturing, but the sector would probably continue to struggle. Producers involved in goods trade (imports and/or exports) are large and growing employers — home to about 80 percent of all US manufacturing workers. Roughly half of US goods imports in 2024 were between related parties, with especially high concentrations in transportation equipment, chemicals, computer and electronic products, and machinery.

Source: Taipei Times January 18, 2026 17:55 UTC