Made in the USA: A dream we can’t afford to abandon

In the humming factories of Shenzhen and the sleek boardrooms of Brussels, a quiet shift is underway — one that threatens to leave the United States watching from the sidelines. China and Europe, long seen as economic rivals to American dominance, are deepening their ties, forging a partnership that could reshape the global order. Against this backdrop, the U.S. must reassert its industrial might, not out of nostalgia for a bygone era, but as a matter of survival in a world where manufacturing muscle still matters.

The numbers reveal a stark story. China’s industrial output now surpasses that of the U.S., accounting for nearly 30 percent of global manufacturing, according to the World Bank, while America’s share has declined to 16 percent. Europe, meanwhile, has embraced its role as a regulatory superpower, establishing standards that ripple across continents. 

The recent thaw in Sino-European relations — highlighted by a 2020 investment agreement and an array of trade discussions — only intensifies the challenge. Beijing provides inexpensive labor and raw materials, while Europe contributes cutting-edge technology and a vast consumer market. Together, they are forming a bloc that could marginalize American interests, ranging from semiconductors to green energy.

This isn’t just about economics — it’s about power. Industrial dominance underpins national security. A nation that can’t produce its own steel, chips, or batteries is vulnerable to its rivals. The Pentagon recognizes this: a 2021 report warned that U.S. reliance on foreign supply chains, particularly from China, poses a “strategic vulnerability.” Exhibit A: the chip shortage that crippled American automakers while Chinese firms continued to thrive. Exhibit B: Europe’s push for “strategic autonomy,” a polite way of saying it wants to rely less on America.

History provides a lesson. In the 20th century, America’s industrial base won wars and forged a superpower. The Arsenal of Democracy didn’t just produce tanks; it generated jobs, innovation, and influence. Today, that base is weakening. Decades of offshoring have gutted the Rust Belt, leaving behind vacant plants and a workforce trained for yesterday’s economy. Meanwhile, China’s Belt and Road Initiative connects a network of infrastructure from Asia to Africa, and Europe invests heavily in its green industrial revolution. The U.S., in contrast, debates infrastructure bills that never seem to get started.

Reclaiming industrial primacy will not be easy. It involves confronting hard truths: tax breaks for Wall Street will not rebuild factories in Ohio; free-market platitudes will not counter Beijing’s state-driven juggernaut. It requires a strong policy — subsidies for critical industries, tariffs to level the playing field, and a workforce retrained for the 21st century. Critics will shout “protectionism,” but what’s the alternative? A nation that outsources its backbone risks losing its spine.

The stakes are evident. If China and Europe weave their economies closer together, America might find itself a consumer rather than a creator in the upcoming industrial age. The time for complacency has passed. In the face of rising powers, the U.S. must chart its own course — hammer, steel, and resolve intact.