AM Under Trump, First Thoughts: Reshoring
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Constrained resources and the need to fight climate change have led to a new era of manufacturing focused on re- and nearshoring paired with supply chain resilience. In the battle over increasingly scarce opportunities for growth, nations around the world are looking to bolster their positions in the global economy by bringing production as close to home as possible.
For North America, this shift brings unprecedented opportunities, with additive manufacturing (AM) at the core of new production capabilities that enhance efficiency, adaptability, and supply chain resilience. Countries across the region are transforming their manufacturing sectors to address disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened geopolitical tensions, primarily those driven by the US-China trade war. The resulting strategic focus on relocating and fortifying production is fueling innovation across borders—from the United States’ investment in reshoring its advanced manufacturing capabilities, to Mexico’s emergence as a nearshoring hub, to Canada’s expanding role in sustainable, high-tech manufacturing.
In this context, AM plays a central role in enabling near- and reshoring strategies that reduce reliance on distant suppliers, revitalize local economies, and create more agile manufacturing systems. As the U.S. and China pursue divergent policies in AM, global supply chains continue to adapt, with North America at the center of a burgeoning 3D printing ecosystem.
Although the authors do not align with the Trump campaign’s rhetoric or its domestic social agenda, a second Trump administration may actually present growth opportunities for the AM sector in the U.S. This series explores these dynamics in depth, beginning with the U.S. government’s strategic push to reshore AM production, Mexico’s integration of AM in its growing nearshoring market, and the complex, competitive relationship between the U.S. and China in the global race for AM leadership.
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