North American manufacturers consider the United States the most desirable nation for expansion over the next three years, according to Made in North America, a survey released by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), The Manufacturing Institute, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
The largest number of North American companies (44 percent) say they intend to expand production in the United States over the next three years. A total of 57 percent of U.S. manufacturers say they will become more globally competitive over the next five years across the supply chain from sales, marketing, and customer service to engineering and information technology.
The news, however, is not all rosy. “The survey clearly shows concerns that manufacturing companies want government to address,” said Emily DeRocco, NAM senior vice president and president of The Manufacturing Institute. “Manufacturers cited controlling labor costs, enacting favorable tax policies, and assisting with the severe shortage of skilled manufacturing workers, including engineers, scientists, and technicians, as the top three areas that policymakers should address to help improve their global competitiveness.”
The survey sheds new light on how North American manufacturers view tree-trade agreements. Contrary to perceptions, North American manufacturers paint a positive picture of their experiences with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) after almost 15 years. Almost half (49 percent) say that NAFTA helped their business to become more competitive, while only 10 percent say it has hurt their business. The remaining 41 percent said it did not affect them.
To download the survey. www.nam.org/northamericansurvey