A new report from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has hailed the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) as a major driver of American manufacturing growth, investment and job creation, with exports to Canada and Mexico now supporting around 2 million US jobs.
Released ahead of the North American Manufacturing Conference in Washington, D.C., the report argues that the USMCA has strengthened North America’s position as a global manufacturing powerhouse, while helping companies shift production and investment away from Asia and closer to home.
According to the report, titled Built to Spec: USMCA Supports Millions of American Jobs and Drives U.S. Manufacturing Dominance, 15 of 18 manufacturing sectors have increased exports to Canada and Mexico since the agreement was ratified. The three countries collectively account for around 30% of global GDP.
The NAM said manufacturers across a range of industries have expanded operations and increased investment under the agreement. Rheem Manufacturing said its capital investments nearly quadrupled to $100m following the negotiations, while Thermo Fisher Scientific recently announced a $2bn investment programme in the US, including $1.5bn dedicated to expanding domestic manufacturing operations.
Manufacturers have also reported workforce growth linked to increased regional trade. Amphenol Corporation said it has “more jobs across our factories in the U.S. today than we had five years ago,” while Humtown said it has added both machinery and personnel to support rising exports to Canada and Mexico.
The report highlights several key advantages manufacturers associate with the agreement, including faster supply chain responsiveness through geographic proximity, improved access to critical inputs, a stronger co-production model across North America and greater resilience against geopolitical instability and global trade tensions.
It also points to regulatory and operational improvements introduced through the USMCA, including streamlined customs procedures, greater regulatory harmonisation and stronger intellectual property protections.
“The USMCA is a proven engine for America’s manufacturing strength, ensuring that more products bear the imprint ‘Made in America’,” he said.
“Under President Trump’s signature trade agreement, manufacturers have moved production and investments away from Asia to the United States and the rest of the North American market.
“This report shows that the USMCA has been an anchor for manufacturing investment and expansion in the U.S.—supporting job creation and export growth to the region.”
– Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the NAM.
Timmons added that manufacturers now have an opportunity to strengthen the agreement further through targeted reforms designed to reinforce supply chains and drive additional domestic growth.
The report includes testimonials from manufacturers across multiple sectors, including CNH, Brunswick Corporation, Dragonfly Energy and American Textile Company, all of which cited operational and commercial benefits tied to the agreement.
NAM concluded that preserving and strengthening the USMCA would be critical to maintaining US manufacturing competitiveness in the face of growing global competition.
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