The United States Is By Far The World’s Largest Manufacturer

Louise Slaughter, Chairman of the House Rules Committee, said on the floor of the House today that China is the world’s largest manufacturer, “Mr. Speaker, I need to put on the record that America is not the manufacturing giant; China is the manufacturing giant, followed by India.” 

However, a review of the facts tells a different story….

1. U.S. manufacturing output is a whopping $600 billion more than China’s (United Nations Statistics Division), exceeding China by more than one-third. 

2.   The five largest export sectors for the United States are high-value manufactured products that support high-paying jobs.
• Boilers, machinery, and appliances (exports = $199 billion; average wage = $18.81 per hour)
• Electrical machinery and equipment (exports = $148 billion;  average wage = $19.62 per hour)
• Cars, trucks, and tractors (exports = $107 billion; average wage = $22.81 per hour)
• Aircraft (exports = $76 billion; average wage = $28.88 per hour)
• Optical, photographic, and medical equipment (exports = $66 billion; average wage = $20.28 per hour).

3.   If Congress had passed the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement today, these and thousands of other products made by American workers would have received duty-free access into the Colombian market rather than paying tariffs of up to 35%.  Instead, Canadian and European manufacturers, who are about to complete their trade agreements with Colombia, will gain a competitive advantage over American workers.

FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS MAKE AMERICAN MANUFACTURING WORKERS MORE COMPETITIVE!

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