Making It In America Requires a Robust Domestic Manufacturing Strategy
The Trump administration’s push to revive American manufacturing through tariffs, as highlighted in a recent New York Times article (“Trump wants America to make things again. Does it have what it takes?”) has sparked a heated debate: Can America make things again?
As a wife-and-husband team who has spent a decade building American Roots — a 100% U.S.-made, unionized apparel company in Westbrook, Maine — we believe the answer is yes. But it won’t be easy, and tariffs alone won’t get us there.
Our solution was to develop a training program, which inspired Dory Waxman, to create an outstanding initiative called Common Threads of Maine, enabling us to build a skilled workforce. We were also assisted by Coastal Enterprises, Catholic Charities of Maine and Goodwill Industries of Maine.
This initiative has empowered new Americans from countries like the Congo and Iraq to become skilled sewers at American Roots. Today, we employ 75 unionized workers through The United Steelworkers Local 366. Training programs like these, scaled nationally, could rebuild our workforce.
Tariffs, as the administration proposes, can shift incentives, but they’re a blunt tool. They’ve disrupted supply chains, as the Times reports, and raised costs for businesses like ours. Instead of relying solely on tariffs, we need government support for domestic suppliers and training programs.
Tax incentives for companies that source and produce locally would help level the playing field against cheaper overseas labor. Our hoodies cost $108–$120 because we pay union wages and offer benefits like health care, 401(k)s, paid sick days and vacation. We believe consumers and corporations may want to prioritize value over price, choosing American-made goods to fuel local economies.