Copyright Baltimore Sun
President Donald Trump’s second term comes with a promise for America to reclaim its dominance in manufacturing and critical technology. But exactly how is that going to happen, and what’s the impact on our national security and local communities? In the sun-scorched desert outside Phoenix, a manufacturing and technological revolution is unfolding. A giant foreign company is expanding its U.S. footprint with a staggering investment announced weeks into Trump’s second term. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., or TSMC, is pouring $165 billion into a site in Arizona, building six state-of-the-art chip factories to power everything from iPhones to AI. It’s believed to be the largest foreign direct investment in U.S. history. “I think it really changes the landscape,” said Greg Jackson, an executive at TSMC in Arizona. “I mean, if you look over the years, we’ve dropped to somewhere around 10% or less chips made in the United States. Now we’re bringing that back into the United States and bringing it back in the most advanced technology into the United States.” President Trump has made a manufacturing surge a pillar of his second term, in part to reduce America’s risky dependence on China and other foreign powers. “I think if you look back to the COVID time, there was a lot of risk that came in from the supply chain by having things spread out all over the world,” Jackson said. “The port shut down, the airport shut down, people were unavailable to come to work. Having semiconductors back in the U.S. on shore reduces that risk and allows us to really fend for ourselves and be in charge of our own destiny.” America’s first big manufacturing boom began in the 1800s with the Industrial Revolution. After the Civil War, industries like steel and railroads exploded. By 1900, the U.S. produced 30% of manufactured goods on the planet. Ford’s assembly line and other advances led to a peak in the 1950s. But in the 1970s and 1980s came a downturn, triggered by globalization and automation. By 2000, America had lost 5 million jobs, largely in steel, textiles and electronics. Another dip followed the 2008 recession, with 2 million more jobs gone. Now, Trump’s strategy leans on incentives and steep tariffs — potentially 25% or more on imported chips. The policies are confusing to some and draw sharp criticism. But Trump and his allies say these policies are spurring many companies to build or expand on U.S. soil. TSMC is the biggest, but dozens of manufacturing ventures have been announced in Trump’s second term as of this past June, with billions in promised spending, including pharmaceutical, computer, energy, AI and critical minerals companies. A project by Canada-based Cyclic Materials centers on an empty, new warehouse in Mesa, Arizona. It will soon be buzzing with machinery. “So today, the market, when it comes to rare earth, is overly dominated by China. It’s over 90% of the global supply,” said Marie Vaillaud, who’s with Cyclic Materials. “This supply is obviously at risk with ongoing tensions. So what Cyclic Materials does is, we recycle the end-of-life materials to recover these very rare earths and reintegrate it into the supply, which is a critical need for any industry in the U.S.” Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman says the city is perfectly situated for a boom that drives economic growth. “We have a great manufacturing community here already,” Freeman said. “The president continues to support bringing manufacturing back to United States. I know when I was younger, everything was built in the United States, and it’s gone offshore. But when we look at it overall, it’s just a great thing for the United States. So I welcome it.” As factories rise and workers train, there are high hopes that a comeback is taking root. If Trump’s vision delivers, the results could write the next chapter in America’s manufacturing story. “Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson” airs at 10 a.m. Sunday, WJLA (Channel 7) and WBFF (Channel 45).
