NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — As the Trump administration continues to implement tariffs aimed at rebalancing global trade, small manufacturers are divided regarding their potential impact on American industry.
Drew Greenblatt, president and owner of Marlin Steel Wire Products in Baltimore, Maryland, is among those who support the administration’s strategy. He asserts that tariffs will help level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers like his company, which supplies medical and aerospace industries.
With 115 employees and manufacturing facilities across Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan, Greenblatt sources his steel from within the U.S., aiming to remain competitive despite the challenges posed by imported goods.
He notes that foreign firms have an “unfair advantage,” pointing out the discrepancies created by European tariffs, which make it more expensive for German consumers to buy American-made products, while U.S. consumers enjoy cheaper access to German-made goods.
“It’s wildly unfair to the American worker,” Greenblatt stated, emphasizing that such conditions have persisted for decades.
The Trump administration has labeled U.S. manufacturing as critical to both economic and national security, addressing a significant decline over the decades.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the manufacturing sector reached its peak in June 1979 with 19.6 million workers but is projected to fall to 12.8 million by January 2025—a 35% decline.
Small manufacturers, who account for 99% of all American manufacturing, have faced particularly harsh conditions in this changing landscape.
In a bid to revitalize the industry, the administration has imposed tariffs on key trading partners, promoting the idea that these measures will force companies to produce more goods domestically—ultimately resulting in “better-paying American jobs.”
Greenblatt believes that if tariff parity could be achieved, his company could potentially double its workforce.
Despite some manufacturers supporting the tariffs, others express apprehension about the implications for the broader economy.
Corry Blanc, owner of Blanc Creatives in Waynesboro, Virginia, feels that the uncertainty surrounding tariffs outweighs any potential advantages.
Since 2012, Blanc has crafted cookware from American steel and wood, employing 12 staff members and sourcing materials from local suppliers.
He has been receiving anxious inquiries from customers in Canada and elsewhere, highlighting concerns about the economic climate’s impact on production capacity.
“The uncertainty is at an all-time high—we’re not getting a lot of direction,” Blanc lamented, noting that current conditions are the most challenging he has faced to date.
Another manufacturer, Michael Lyons, founder of Rogue Industries in Standish, Maine, shares a similar sentiment.
Lyons produces leather goods with a small team and primarily uses materials sourced from local suppliers.
He reports that uncertainty stemming from the tariffs has led to the loss of international customers, with one Canadian client indicating they would stop purchasing from his company due to trade tensions.
“We’re just going to hold steady for now and see what happens,” Lyons explained, expressing a desire for stability in order to focus on expansion efforts.
On a more optimistic note, Bayard Winthrop, CEO of American Giant, sees potential benefits stemming from the increased protectionism.
Winthrop founded his clothing line in 2011 with the goal of revitalizing the American textile industry. Initially selling only one product, a sweatshirt, he has since expanded to offer a variety of clothing items, including a partnership with Walmart.
American Giant sources cotton from southeastern states and maintains factories in North Carolina and Los Angeles.
He recalls a time when American-made apparel dominated the market, with over half of all clothing bought by consumers produced domestically back in 1991.
Now, that figure has plummeted to less than 4%, prompting Winthrop to advocate for tariffs as a way to stimulate domestic production and restore balance in trading relationships, particularly with China.
Despite acknowledging concerns over tariff policies, Winthrop urges a long-term view, stating, “People should put that aside.”
He believes that an industrial policy prioritizing domestic jobs is a traditional and necessary approach.
While the debate over tariffs continues, the sentiment among small manufacturers remains varied, reflecting a complex landscape of opportunity and uncertainty in American manufacturing.
As the administration’s policies unfold, the future of small businesses and the manufacturing sector at large hangs in the balance.
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