The Industrial Revival Behind the Trade War: Collective Testimonies of Seven Generations of American Craftsmen

Original Title: American Businesses Rally Behind President Trump’s Tariffs to Save Manufacturing

Original Author: The White House

Source of the original text:

Compiled by: Daisy, Mars Finance

American businesses support President Trump's tariff policy to save manufacturing.

Donald S. President J. Trump's decisive trade policies are reinvigorating American manufacturing — earning enthusiastic support from family businesses and other operators across the country who have been victims of decades of unfair trade practices. Together, from steel forgers to mold makers, they convey a powerful message: these policies are not just protecting jobs — they're reviving the heart of American industry.

Here are their heartfelt voices:

Walker Forge is a family-owned business in Clintonville, Wisconsin, that has been passed down for three generations, producing steel forgings for various industries, including defense.

President Will Walker stated: "This is the first time in generations that we have encountered a president who prioritizes American manufacturing. The significance of these tariff policies lies in this - putting America first. The tariffs clearly send a signal: businesses can no longer weaken our American industrial base."

Franchino Mold & Engineering Company in Lansing, Michigan is engaged in the design, engineering development, manufacturing, maintenance, and repair of plastic injection molds.

"I speak on behalf of Franchino Mold & Engineering as we proudly celebrate our 70th anniversary as a U.S. moldmaker," said Mike Hetherington, President. I found a very unfair phenomenon: the price of buying a complete set of injection molds from China is lower than the cost of purchasing raw materials and building my own molds in the United States. We pride ourselves on adhering to high standards of labor, safety, quality and environmental protection – but compete with Chinese companies that don't play by the same rules. They enjoy huge government subsidies, lax labor standards, and artificially low prices, making it impossible for U.S. mold makers to compete with China on price. Tariff policies have leveled the playing field for U.S. mold makers, forcing businesses to switch to U.S. suppliers that meet their cost, quality, and delivery needs. We're not looking for protection – we're just asking for fairness! "

ELLWOOD, a family-owned business with a 115-year history in Elwood, Pennsylvania, produces high-quality metals and custom-engineered components for some of the world's most demanding sectors, including defense and aerospace.

Ben Huffman, President and CEO, stated: "ELLWOOD supports President Trump's efforts to reshape the global trading system into a fair system. The current imbalanced system puts American manufacturing at a serious disadvantage. The unfair trade practices resulting from national subsidies worldwide continue to cause significant harm to ELLWOOD, and these historically destructive trade practices must be reversed."

Dyersville Die Cast in Dyersville, Iowa focuses on custom aluminum/zinc die casting manufacturing as well as CNC machining, powder coating, and other supporting services.

President Robert Willets said: "I have served for over 24 years - many events during this time have convinced me that President Trump's tariff policy is absolutely correct. I fully support his fight to protect American manufacturers. God bless President Trump for keeping his promises."

TK Mold & Engineering, Inc. in Romeo, Michigan manufactures prototypes and mass production molds for the consumer goods and automotive industries.

President Tom Barr stated: "TK Mold & Engineering, Inc. is proud to be rooted in the heart of the American automotive industry. Thanks to recent tariff policies, we are witnessing a resurgence of interest in domestic manufacturing in the U.S. In just the past three days, we have received three inquiries explicitly requesting to move mold and molding production back to the U.S. These tariffs have created real opportunities for American companies like ours by encouraging businesses to return. We appreciate these policies that support the real economy and rejuvenate foundational industries such as mold manufacturing."

Industrial Molds, Inc., a family-owned business located in Rockford, Illinois, is a mold workshop with 52 employees.

CEO Andy Peterson stated: "The implementation of tariffs has prompted customers to completely reassess their supply chains and increase domestic sourcing. This has completely reversed our performance expectations for this year, and we are currently planning to rapidly expand our workforce."

Legacy Precision Molds, Inc. in Grandville, Michigan focuses on the design and manufacturing of high-precision plastic injection molds.

Vice President Tyler Van Rhee pointed out: "Recent tariffs have had a significantly positive impact on our business. Inquiry volumes have surged, new orders are continuously coming in, and companies are increasingly interested in reshoring. The current tariffs are effectively driving the recovery of American manufacturing. We appreciate the government's commitment to revitalizing American industry and encourage it to continue exploring long-term solutions to boost manufacturing."

Campbell Press Repair in Lansing, Michigan is a second-generation family business serving the metal stamping industry, with 28 skilled employees. They specialize in heavy machinery repair, refurbishment, automation upgrades, and new equipment manufacturing.

President Peter Campbell lamented: "Before President Trump exposed it, who cared about the issue of tariff imbalance? As a small business owner participating in global competition, these policies are crucial."

Westminster Tool, Inc. in Plainfield, Connecticut, is a manufacturer of injection molds focused on complex medical surgical instruments.

Vice President Hillary Thomas analyzed: "The manufacturing tariffs implemented by the Trump administration are equally beneficial to us as the large-scale tariff actions of 2018. After the new policy was announced, the monthly inquiry volume surged by 25%. These tariffs targeting international competitors such as China effectively balance the global competitive environment for the mold manufacturing industry. We firmly support maintaining international trade tariffs that promote domestic manufacturing."

Metallus, Inc. in Canton, Ohio, is a leading manufacturer of high-performance specialty metals in the United States, providing materials for the industrial, automotive, aerospace, defense, and energy sectors using recycled scrap metal.

President and CEO Michael S. Williams emphasized: "We support the implementation and expansion of the 232 steel tariffs, which aligns with our consistent stance of maintaining fair trade and correcting market imbalances. As a domestic steel producer, we see the tariffs as a joint victory for Metallus and the U.S. steel industry."

Twin Cities Die Casting in Minneapolis, Minnesota is an employee-owned die casting company with a 106-year history, operating three plants in the Midwest and employing 175 people.

CEO Todd Olson admitted: "Over the past decade, our industry—especially our company—has been deeply affected by intensified foreign competition, most of which has received unfair support from other countries. Despite the growth in demand in the U.S. die-casting market during the same period, the domestic industry has continued to shrink, while low-cost countries have significantly expanded their capacity."