These companies that choose to relocate to the United States

Exporting to the United States is now more expensive. And this, since Donald Trump increased customs duties by 10 % against the products of all the countries of the globe – and even more for certain goods such as steel and aluminum (25 %). A figure that could be much higher if the American president finally decided to carry out his threat to establish reciprocal customs duties, a pause measure since April 9 for 90 days.

One of the goals displayed by the billionaire in power is to encourage manufacturers to (re) locate their production on American soil. The fact remains that the long -term effects of this policy are unpredictable. “Everyone will ask themselves: is it more competitive to produce in the United States, with a market that has become lower, or to pay customs duties? »»recently summed up with AFP Guillaume Crunelne, from the Deloitte. Some have already decided.

Among them, many car manufacturers. It must be said that the sector has been subject since early April to additional customs duties of 25 % – which must be extended from May 3 to industry spare parts.

There are those who have already formalized their choice, such as the Japanese Honda. This Wednesday, he announced this Wednesday to restore the production of his Civic hybrid model from Japan to the United States, more precisely in his factory located in Indiana. His counterpart Nissan, who intended to stop the production of his SUV Snape in her Tennessee factory, will finally maintain it to avoid American surcharges. As for the Swedish Volvo, he confirmed that he was going to increase his production in her Southern Carolina factory, and perhaps transfer a new model.

Others still procrastinate. Like the German BMW, which plans to increase the production capacity of its factory by 80,000 units, also in South Carolina. Similar discussion with his colleague Mercedes, who could also move the production of one of his American earth models. Ditto for part of the production of engines from the British Rolls-Royce.

The Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis announced last week an investment of $ 23 billion in the United States over five years, to make the main drugs for American patients. Its direct competitor, Roche, also said that it was considering new investments across the Atlantic, for “Continue to meet the needs of American patients”according to the Swiss media Blick.

Three American groups have also made announcements in this area in recent weeks to strengthen their production in the United States. Four new sites will be built by Eli Lilly, for a total of $ 27 billion (23.7 billion euros), when Johnson & Johnson will unlock $ 55 billion (48.4 billion euros) over the next four years. Merck, for its part, inaugurated a factory for manufacturing vaccines in North Carolina, a project valued at $ 1 billion (880 million euros).

Others could follow suit. The bosses of 32 pharmaceutical laboratories – including Roche, Eli Lilly, Merck, the Danish Novo Nordisk, the French Sanofi and Servier – launched a warning to the European Commission last week. In a letter, they claimed certain conditions to prevent “Exodus” Investments from the sector to the United States, including a more competitive European market. Without that, “Within three months, 16.5 billion euros in planned investments could be transferred outside Europe”they warned.

Pharmaceutical products are currently exempt from customs duties imposed by Washington, because they are considered as essential goods. But this exception may not last, Donald Trump having already left doubt about it.

On the side of heavy industry, the announcements have multiplied in recent weeks. Several of them took place before the American president fully launched his trade war, but difficult not to see a link, Donald Trump having made the increase in customs duties one of his promises during the campaign for the presidential election last fall.

Thus, the steelmaker ArcelorMittal, based in Luxembourg, said in early February investing nearly a billion dollars (around 880 million euros) in a new steel production plant in Alabama, where it is already established.

The French giant of Saint-Gobain materials, the same month announced an investment of $ 40 million (35.2 million euros) for the construction of a factory in New York. A project always relevant. The group confirmed it in early April to AFP, arguing that it was not decided in the context of customs duties increases, but to serve the American market.

More recently, the French Schneider Electric, specialist in electrical equipment, said predicted to invest “More than $ 700 million in the United States”its main growth pool. A decayed sum towards artificial intelligence (AI) and energy by 2027.

In another register, the French shipowner CMA CGM (owner of The platform) presented investments of $ 20 billion in early March (17.6 billion euros) in the United States, intended for “Building infrastructure and logistics terminals for maritime transport”as Donald Trump had said.