“STOP OUTSOURCING, AND TURN THE UNITED STATES INTO A MANUFACTURING SUPERPOWER”

Where it stands

BLS: 12,652,000 people worked in manufacturing in September 2026 (preliminary, released 2 October 2026), against 12,673,000 in January 2025 and a low of 12,580,000 in December 2025. The words set no figure for a manufacturing superpower.

What has happened

1. 15 July 2024Promised. Delegates at the Republican National Convention adopt the 2024 platform, which opens with twenty promises
2. 10 February 2025In plan. Proclamation 10896 sets a 25% tariff on steel imports from all countries and ends country exemptions evidence
3. 2 April 2025In plan. Executive Order 14257 adds a 10% tariff on imports from all trading partners from 5 April 2025, with higher rates for listed countries, citing "the hollowing out of our manufacturing base" evidence
4. 3 June 2025In plan. Proclamation 10947 raises the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%, from 4 June 2025 evidence
5. 4 July 2025Legislated. Public Law 119-21 lets factories whose construction begins after 19 January 2025 and before 1 January 2029, and that are in service before 2031, be written off in full in their first year (section 70307) evidence
6. 20 February 2026In plan. After the Supreme Court holds that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize tariffs, Executive Order 14389 ends the tariffs set under that Act, and Proclamation 11012 imposes a 10% import surcharge under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 for 150 days from 24 February 2026 evidence
7. 23 July 2026In plan. A presidential memorandum imposes section 301 tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on goods from economies that the Trade Representative found do not enforce bans on imports made with forced labor evidence

More detail

Related promises

• RepublicansSeal the border“SEAL THE BORDER, AND STOP THE MIGRANT INVASION”Delivering1. Seal the borderCost not stated15 July 2024Open the promise →
• RepublicansLargest deportation operation in American history“CARRY OUT THE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY”Delivering2. DeportationsCost not stated15 July 2024Open the promise →
• RepublicansEnd inflation and make America affordable“END INFLATION, AND MAKE AMERICA AFFORDABLE AGAIN”In plan3. Inflation and pricesCost not stated15 July 2024Open the promise →

Every promise in 5. Manufacturing