The White House is using tariffs to restore manufacturing. Data suggests it will take time.

Main Idea: President Donald Trump is using tariffs to push manufacturing back to the U.S., but the data suggests that shift would take years and could raise costs for consumers.

Key Points:

• Manufacturing now employs far fewer U.S. workers than it did in the 1970s, while most jobs are in services.
• Experts say building factories, training workers, and expanding supply chains would take years, even with strong support.
• Many companies may wait for stable tariff rules before investing, and some may instead raise prices or move supply chains elsewhere.
• The U.S. has a strong services economy, so heavier focus on goods production could weaken one of its biggest strengths.