The Wall Street Journal published an article titled "Why Is It So Hard for Products to Be 100% 'Made in America'?" recently, using multiple cases to illustrate that it is extremely difficult for American manufacturing companies to achieve a completely "American-made" product. In the past 12 months, the number of products labeled as "Made in America" has actually decreased. The following is an abstract of the article:

American manufacturers stated that key components are either too expensive, too scarce, or simply unavailable domestically. Building a complete supply chain in the U.S. is a daunting task.

DECKED, a manufacturer of pickup truck storage boxes in Idaho, aims to achieve 100% American production but is stuck on the last 5% of components. The roller bearings purchased from China cannot find suppliers in the U.S. with both competitive pricing and delivery cycles.

Lapid Plastics, a small business in New York City producing high-end hangers, found that domestic metal hook suppliers went bankrupt or moved overseas over 20 years ago. Currently, the company's metal hooks and other metal parts are sourced from China, while tariffs are rapidly increasing production costs.

Hass Automation, a California-based machinery manufacturer, sources its cast iron required for processing product frames from China. The company's management said that there are no manufacturers in the U.S. with an annual output exceeding 100 million pounds. Cast iron, which only costs a few dollars per pound, also struggles to find workers; building a super-fundamental foundry in the U.S. is not realistic.

Due to tariffs, Hass Automation has reduced production at its California factory and canceled overtime. If tariffs are not reduced, the company’s planned $500 million investment in a new plant in Nevada may be delayed in its commissioning.

According to statistics from market research firm Nielsen IQ, in the past 12 months, approximately 100,000 consumer goods and groceries labeled "Made in America" were recorded in the U.S., a decrease of 2,000 compared to the previous 12 months.

Chenarock, a family business in Philadelphia whose pliers, tool bags, and screwdrivers are all 100% made in America, worries that if import tariffs lead to increased demand for metals in the U.S., its domestic steel suppliers may prioritize meeting the needs of car factories and other large customers.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7499398280204386825/

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