The Return of Companies to the US

President Donald Trump has stressed the importance of companies bringing their factories back to the US through so-called reshoring, relegating nearshoring, which encouraged companies to at least relocate to "friendly" countries and, instead of moving to China, to settle in Mexico or Vietnam, a policy rolled out under the administrations of Presidents Obama and Biden. In this article we will review foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into the US, with special reference to those coming from Latin America, the Trump administration's strategy to attract productive investments, and the announcements of productive investments in the US as of March 2026.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the US in 2025

According to a recent WTO report, net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows amounted to US$288 billion in 2025, slightly below the previous year's pace and representing less than 1% of GDP. Of this amount, investments made by foreign investors during their first year to acquire, establish or expand businesses in the US rose by more than 49%, reaching US$232.2 billion in 2025, a reversal of the trend after three consecutive years of decline. According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the country with the largest investment in 2025 was Japan (US$50.5 billion), followed by Germany (US$26.7 billion) and Canada (US$23.5 billion). By region, Europe contributed the largest share of new investment, with US$116.6 billion, or 50.2% of all new investment in 2025. Asia and the Pacific was the second-largest region, with US$71.9 billion. Within the Western Hemisphere, Mexico leads with US$1.494 billion, followed by Guatemala with US$1.427 billion and Brazil with US$1.322 billion, while Argentina registers barely US$26 million.

Origins of FDI in the US in 2025, in millions of dollars

Most FDI inflows continue to be directed toward the acquisition of existing companies, a trend reinforced by the predominance of reinvested earnings, which rose from 18% of FDI inflows in 2015 to more than 70% in 2025. The largest investments went to the publishing industry (US$50.7 billion), followed by chemical manufacturing (US$45.4 billion) and the manufacture of plastic and rubber products (US$19.0 billion). The manufacturing sector (US$121.8 billion) accounted for 52.5% of total spending.

The US strategy of the Trump administration to attract productive investments

The most novel aspect of Donald Trump's new investment policy lies in the Agreements on Reciprocal Trade and in instruments such as Memoranda of Understanding with various countries, since these were based on the requirement that countries commit to promoting foreign direct investment by their national companies in the US in exchange for not raising tariffs on imported products originating in the signatory countries. For example, in the Turnberry agreement, the European Union committed to the US to invest US$600 billion in strategic sectors in the United States through 2028, and Japan has committed, through a Memorandum of Understanding, to invest US$550 billion through a combination of project financing and co-investment vehicles until January 19, 2029. The investment vehicles vary, ranging from private companies and public-private partnerships to sovereign wealth funds in which the state has direct control over the capital for diplomatic purposes, and the amounts committed, according to Trump himself, reach 18 trillion dollars.

“America First” Foreign Direct Investment Commitments (2025-2026)

In the case of automobiles, President Trump imposed a 25% tariff on passenger vehicles and light trucks manufactured outside the United States. He also signed an order that rewards domestic assembly by reducing the impact of tariffs on parts for vehicles manufactured in the United States. He also extended a 25% tariff to medium and heavy trucks manufactured abroad. Another consideration is Chinese consumers' preference for domestic products over foreign ones, which is pushing companies to invest in the US again. Such is the case of the British company Jaguar Land Rover, which will begin manufacturing vehicles in the US together with Stellantis. According to the newspaper Miami Herald, JLR sales fell 26% in the second quarter of 2026 and accounted for only 11% of the total. However, it is not the only one, as other European brands are suffering a similar setback at the hands of Chinese automakers that now prioritize electric mobility over internal combustion.

Announcements of productive investments in the US

According to the White House, as of March 2026, these are the companies that have made investment announcements:

• Apple announced an investment of US$600 billion in manufacturing and workforce training in the US, as it moves additional components of its supply chain and advanced manufacturing back to the US, together with an American manufacturing program to encourage its suppliers to make their products in the US.
• Meta announced an investment of US$600 billion through 2028 to support AI technology, infrastructure and workforce expansion in the US.
• The Stargate Project , led by Japan-based Softbank and US-based OpenAI and Oracle, announced a private investment of US$500 billion in US-based artificial intelligence infrastructure.
• NVIDIA , a global giant in chip manufacturing, announced that it will invest US$500 billion in US-based AI infrastructure over the next four years, as part of its commitment to manufacture AI supercomputers entirely in the US for the first time.
• Amazon announced that it invested US$340 billion in the United States last year and that it will invest another US$20 billion to expand its cloud computing infrastructure in Pennsylvania, creating at least 1,250 new highly skilled jobs; US$10 billion to build new data centers in North Carolina; and another US$4 billion in small towns across the United States, creating more than 100,000 new jobs and boosting opportunities nationwide.
• AT&T announced an investment of US$250 billion to build its wireless network and data infrastructure across the country.
• Micron Technology , the only US manufacturer of advanced memory chips, announced an investment of US$200 billion in its advanced memory chip manufacturing and production plant in the United States, which includes building a second chip fabrication plant in Boise, Idaho, and modernizing its facilities in Manassas, Virginia.
• IBM announced an investment of US$150 billion over the next five years in its US-based growth and manufacturing operations.
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced an investment of US$100 billion in chip manufacturing in the United States.
• Johnson & Johnson announced an investment of US$55 billion over the next four years in manufacturing, research and development, and technology, including a dedicated US$2 billion manufacturing plant at the FUJIFILM site in Holly Springs, North Carolina.
• AstraZeneca announced an investment of US$50 billion for drug manufacturing and research in the United States.
• Anthropics announced an investment of US$50 billion in American AI infrastructure, including new data centers in Texas and New York.
• Roche , a Swiss drug and diagnostics company, announced an investment of US$50 billion in manufacturing and research and development in the United States, which is expected to create more than 1,000 full-time jobs and more than 12,000 jobs, including construction.
• Bristol Myers Squibb announced an investment of US$40 billion over the next five years in its US-based research, development, technology and manufacturing operations.
• GSK announced an investment of US$30 billion in US-based research, development and manufacturing.
• Eli Lilly and Company announced an investment of US$27 billion to more than double its domestic manufacturing capacity.
• Hyundai announced an investment of US$26 billion in the United States, including US$5.8 billion for a new steel plant in Louisiana, which will create nearly 1,500 jobs.

• Vantage Data Centers announced a US$25 billion investment to build a large-scale 1.4 GW data center campus in Shackelford County, Texas, which will employ more than 5,000 people in construction and ongoing operations.
• ADQ, based in the United Arab Emirates, and US-based Energy Capital Partners announced a US$25 billion investment in data centers and energy infrastructure in the US.
• Google announced a US$25 billion investment in data center and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
• Blackstone announced a US$25 billion investment in digital and energy infrastructure across Pennsylvania.
• Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, announced a US$23 billion investment to build or expand ten manufacturing plants in the US, creating 4,000 new jobs.
• John Deere announced plans to invest US$20 billion over the next decade in US expansion, production and manufacturing, including the reshoring of its excavator manufacturing.
• DAMAC Properties, based in the United Arab Emirates, announced a US$20 billion investment in new data centers in the US.
• France's CMA CGM, a global shipping giant, announced a US$20 billion investment in the US shipping and logistics sector, which will create 10,000 new jobs.
• Sanofi announced that it will invest at least US$20 billion over the next five years in manufacturing and research and development.
• Venture Global LNG announced a US$18 billion investment in its liquefied natural gas plant in Louisiana.
• Woodside Energy Group announced a US$17.5 billion investment in a new liquefied natural gas plant in Louisiana.
• GlobalFoundaries announced a US$16 billion investment to boost its chip production in the US, including the expansion of existing plants in New York and Vermont.
• FirstEnergy Corp. announced a US$15 billion investment in infrastructure upgrades.
• Nippon Steel announced that it will invest US$14 billion in US Steel's operations, including a new US$4 billion steel plant.
• Stellantis announced a US$13 billion investment in the US, the largest single investment in the company's history, to expand its production in that country by more than 50%.
• Gilead Sciences announced an US$11 billion increase in its planned investment in US manufacturing.
• AbbVie announced a US$10 billion investment over the next ten years to support production volume growth and add four new manufacturing plants to its network, including a US$195 million investment to expand its drug production capacity in the US.
• JPMorgan Chase announced a US$10 billion investment to help US-based companies improve their growth and accelerate strategic manufacturing.
• Merck & Co. announced that it will invest a total of US$9 billion in the US over the coming years, following the opening of a new US$1 billion manufacturing plant in North Carolina, which includes a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware that will create at least 500 new jobs.
• PPL announced a US$6.8 billion investment to expand power grid capacity and modernize transmission.
• CoreWeave, Inc. announced a US$6 billion investment for the expansion of its data center.
• Westinghouse announced a US$6 billion investment to build ten large nuclear reactors in the US.
• Clarios announced a US$6 billion plan to expand its manufacturing operations in the country.
• Belgian pharmaceutical company UCB announced a US$5 billion investment in a new factory in the US.
• Ford announced that it will invest US$5 billion in its manufacturing plants in Kentucky and Michigan to launch a new mid-size pickup truck and advanced batteries.
• Pratt Industries announced a US$5 billion investment to create 5,000 new manufacturing jobs in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Arizona.
• South Korean group Hanwha announced a US$5 billion investment in infrastructure at the Hanwha shipyard in Philadelphia to boost local shipbuilding.
• GlobalWafers , a Taiwanese silicon wafer manufacturer, announced a US$4 billion investment in its production plant in the United States.
• General Motors announced that it will invest US$4 billion in manufacturing in the United States, shifting a larger share of vehicle production from Mexico to the US, including Michigan, Kansas and Tennessee, with an investment of US$888 million in its propulsion plant in Tonawanda, New York. The company also announced that it will move production of its Buick Envision SUV from China to the US.
• Mitsubishi announced a US$3.9 billion investment in the energy sector.
• Shintech announced that it will invest US$3.4 billion to expand production capacity at its existing polyvinyl chloride plant in Louisiana.
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals , a leading biotechnology company, announced a US$3 billion agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies to produce medicines at its manufacturing plant in North Carolina.
• Kraft Heinz announced a US$3 billion investment to modernize its factories in the United States, the largest investment in its plants in decades.
• GE Appliances announced a US$3 billion investment in its manufacturing plant in the United States, which will entail the repatriation of 1,000 jobs and the expansion of its facilities in five states.
• NorthMark Strategies , a multi-strategy investment firm, announced a US$2.8 billion investment to build a supercomputing center in South Carolina.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific announced that it will invest an additional US$2 billion over the next four years to upgrade and expand its manufacturing operations in the United States and strengthen its innovation efforts.
• Amkor Technology announced a US$2 billion investment in a new advanced semiconductor packaging and testing plant in Arizona, which will create 2,000 new jobs.
• Biogen announced a US$2 billion investment in its North Carolina-based manufacturing plant.
• Mars, Inc. announced a US$2 billion investment in its manufacturing operations in the United States.
• GE Aerospace announced last year a US$1 billion investment in manufacturing, creating 5,000 new jobs, and this year announced another US$1 billion investment, which will benefit plants in 30 communities across 17 states and create another 5,000 new jobs.
• Kimberly-Clark announced a US$2 billion investment to expand its manufacturing operations in the United States, including a new advanced manufacturing plant in Warren, Ohio, an expansion of its plant in Beech Island, South Carolina, and other improvements to its supply chain network.
• Chobani , the Greek yogurt giant, announced a US$1.7 billion investment to expand its operations in the United States, including US$1.2 billion to build its third dairy processing plant in New York, which is expected to create more than 1,000 new full-time jobs, and US$500 million to expand its manufacturing plant in Idaho.
• Oklo announced a US$1.68 billion investment to build a fuel recycling plant in Tennessee.
• Corning announced that it will expand its investment in the Michigan manufacturing plant to US$1.5 billion, adding 400 new well-paid jobs in advanced manufacturing, for a total of 1,500 new jobs.
• Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced a US$1.3 billion investment to build a new fresh pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
• MP Materials Corp. announced a US$1.25 billion investment to build a new rare earth magnet manufacturing plant in Texas.
• First Solar announced the opening of its high-tech manufacturing plant in Louisiana, with an investment of US$1.1 billion, which is expected to generate more than 800 direct jobs.
• Carrier announced an additional investment of US$1 billion in its manufacturing plant, innovation and workforce expansion in the United States, which is expected to create 4,000 new jobs.
• Cencora announced an investment of US$1 billion to strengthen its distribution network in the United States.
• Siemens Energy announced an investment of US$1 billion to increase US production of power grid equipment and gas turbines, as well as to expand its apprenticeship and training programs.
• Hikma Pharmaceuticals announced an investment of US$1 billion to expand its manufacturing and research capacity in the United States.
• Vaxcyte announced an investment of US$1 billion in its manufacturing plant in the United States.
• Anduril Industries announced an investment of US$1 billion for a new autonomous weapons systems plant in Ohio.
• Live Nation Entertainment announced an investment of US$1 billion to build 18 new live music venues across the United States.
• Hitachi announced an investment of US$1 billion in US energy infrastructure, which includes a new US$457 million power transformer plant in Virginia.
• Williams International announced an investment of US$1 billion for a new high-volume aviation gas turbine engine manufacturing plant in Okaloosa County, Florida.
• Amgen announced an investment of US$900 million in its Ohio-based manufacturing plant.
• Merck Animal Health announced an investment of US$895 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Kansas.
• US Forged Rings announced an investment of US$875 million in a new production plant in North Carolina.
• ElementUSA announced an investment of US$850 million to build a rare earth and critical minerals refining plant in Louisiana.
• Schneider Electric announced that it will invest US$700 million over the next four years in energy infrastructure in the United States.
• LS Cable & System announced an investment of US$689 million to expand its presence and strengthen US energy infrastructure.
• GE Vernova announced that it will invest nearly US$600 million in US manufacturing over the next two years, which will create more than 1,500 new jobs.
• Abbott Laboratories announced an investment of US$500 million in its facilities in Illinois and Texas.
• AIP Management , a European infrastructure investor, announced an investment of US$500 million in the solar energy developer Silicon Ranch.
• Jabil announced an investment of US$500 million in manufacturing infrastructure and AI data centers in the southeastern United States.
• Avio announced an investment of US$500 million in a new manufacturing plant located in Virginia.
• JCB announced an investment of US$500 million to double the size of its manufacturing plant in Texas.
• Swire Coca-Cola, USA announced an investment of US$475 million in a new manufacturing plant located in Colorado.
• Wistron Corp , the Taiwanese electronics and AI server manufacturer, announced an investment of US$455 million to establish its new subsidiary in the United States.
• The London-based company Diageo, announced an investment of US$415 million in a new manufacturing plant in Alabama.
• Silver Lake announced an investment of US$400 million in a digital infrastructure platform.
• Lego announced an investment of US$366 million to build a new distribution center in Prince George County, Virginia.
• Bel Group announced a US$350 million investment to expand its production in the United States, including its facilities in South Dakota, Idaho and Wisconsin, which will create 250 new jobs.
• Eaton Corporation, headquartered in Dublin, announced a US$340 million investment in a new three-phase transformer manufacturing plant in South Carolina.
• Anheuser-Busch announced a US$300 million investment in its manufacturing plants across the country.
• Whirlpool Corporation announced a US$300 million investment in its washing machine manufacturing facilities in the United States.
• Scout Motors announced a US$300 million investment to build a new supplier park in South Carolina.
• The German company Siemens announced a US$285 million investment in manufacturing and artificial intelligence data centers in the United States, which will create more than 900 new skilled manufacturing jobs.
• Samsung Biologics announced a US$280 million investment to build a new production plant in Maryland.
• Clasen Quality Chocolate announced a US$230 million investment to build a new production plant in Virginia, which will create 250 new jobs.
• Hadrian , a defense equipment manufacturing startup, announced a US$200 million investment to build a large-scale manufacturing and software center in Mesa, Arizona.
• Pratt & Whitney announced a US$200 million investment to expand its operations in Georgia.
• Fiserv, Inc. , a financial technology provider, announced a US$175 million investment to open a new strategic fintech center in Kansas, which is expected to create 2,000 new well-paid jobs.
• Paris Baguette announced a US$160 million investment to build a manufacturing plant in Texas.
• Philips announced a US$150 million investment in manufacturing and research facilities in the United States.
• Siemens Healthineers announced a US$150 million investment to expand production, which includes moving the manufacturing operations of its subsidiary Varian from Mexico to California.
• JBS USA announced a US$135 million investment in a new cured meats production plant in Perry, Iowa.
• TS Conductor announced a US$134 million investment to build an advanced conductor manufacturing plant in South Carolina, which will create nearly 500 new jobs.
• The Swiss company ABB announced a US$120 million investment to expand production of its low-voltage electrification products in Tennessee and Mississippi.
• Saica Group , a Spain-based manufacturer of corrugated cardboard packaging, announced its plans to build a new US$110 million manufacturing plant in Anderson, Indiana.
• ALUKO Group announced a US$107 million investment in a new aluminum manufacturing plant in Tennessee.
• Hotpack , a Dubai-based manufacturer of food packaging materials and related products, announced a US$100 million investment to establish its first manufacturing plant in the United States, in Edison, New Jersey.
• Charms, LLC , a subsidiary of candy maker Tootsie Roll Industries, announced a US$97.7 million investment to expand its production plant and distribution center in Tennessee.
• Toyota Motor announced plans to invest US$10 billion more than previously planned in the United States over the next decade, including an investment of US$912 million in manufacturing plants in five southern states and an investment of US$88 million to boost hybrid vehicle production at its West Virginia factory.
• The Taiwanese company Pegatron Corp. , an iPhone manufacturer, announced a US$85 million investment to establish a new subsidiary and production plant in the United States.
• The Chinese company Kingsun announced an investment of US$80 million to establish its first manufacturing plant in the United States, specifically in North Carolina.
• Rolls-Royce announced an investment of US$75 million to expand its manufacturing plant in South Carolina.
• Arm Inc. announced an investment of US$71 million to expand its campus in Texas and build a new semiconductor laboratory.
• Hanwha Ocean announced an investment of US$70 million to expand its shipyard in Philadelphia.
• Hydrite Chemical Co. announced an investment of US$63 million to expand its manufacturing and distribution capacity.
• The German company Butting Group announced an investment of US$61 million to build its first stainless steel pipe manufacturing plant in the United States, specifically in Alabama.
• Century Aluminum announced that it will invest US$50 million to restart its manufacturing plant in South Carolina for the first time in a decade, which will allow its output to return to the peak levels of 2015.
• The Canadian bakery Silver Hills Bakery announced an investment of US$48.5 million to restart the former Kellogg's plant in Tennessee.
• AeroVironment , a defense contractor, announced an investment of US$42.3 million to build a new manufacturing plant in Utah.
• Saint-Gobain, headquartered in Paris, announced a new NorPro manufacturing plant with an investment of US$40 million in Wheatfield, New York.
• DMG MORI announced an investment of US$40.5 million to expand its manufacturing plant in Illinois.
• Hoffman & Hoffman announced an investment of US$40 million to expand its manufacturing plant in North Carolina.
• Georg Utz Inc. announced an investment of US$40 million to build a new manufacturing plant in South Carolina.
• Echodyne announced an investment of US$40 million in a new manufacturing plant.
• The Indian company Syngene International announced the acquisition of a biologics manufacturing plant in Baltimore for US$36.5 million.
• Asahi Group Holdings , one of Japan's largest beverage makers, announced an investment of US$35 million to increase production at its Wisconsin plant.
• The German company KettenWulf announced an investment of US$34 million to expand its manufacturing plant in the United States.
• The GE Aerospace Foundation announced a US$30 million workforce training program to prepare the next generation of its employees in the United States.
• Valbruna Slater Stainless announced an investment of US$28 million in its stainless steel and nickel alloy bar manufacturing plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
• Northern Foodtech announced an investment of US$22.2 million in a manufacturing plant in Missouri.
• JM Smucker Co. announced an investment of US$20.5 million to expand its manufacturing plant in Topeka, Kansas.
• Cyclic Materials , a Canadian advanced rare earth element recycling company, announced an investment of US$20 million in its first commercial plant in the United States, located in Mesa, Arizona.
• Guardian Bikes announced an investment of US$19 million to build the first large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing plant in the United States, located in Indiana.
• Preciball USA announced an investment of US$17.6 million for a new production plant in Georgia.
• AMG Critical Minerals, headquartered in Amsterdam, announced an investment of US$15 million to build a chromium manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania.
• Midwest Equipment Manufacturing, Inc. announced an investment of US$15 million to expand its factory in Kentucky.
• Il Pastaio announced an investment of US$12.5 million to open its first pasta manufacturing plant in the United States, located in Pennsylvania.
• Bad Boy Mowers Co. announced an investment of US$10.5 million to build a new tractor plant in Alabama.
• NOVONIX Limited, an Australian battery technology company, announced a US$4.6 million investment to build a synthetic graphite manufacturing plant in Tennessee.
• LGM Pharma announced a US$6 million investment to expand its manufacturing plant in Rosenberg, Texas.
• Toyota announced a US$10 billion investment in its factory in Texas.
• Ford Motor Company is investing US$3 billion in its BlueOval battery plant in Marshall, creating 1,700 new jobs. The company is also adding a third shift at its truck plant in Dearborn, given that the F-150 continues to dominate global pickup truck sales.
• Stellantis is investing US$388 million to build a state-of-the-art "megahub" in Van Buren Township, US$140 million to expand its Detroit plant and US$100 million to increase production at its Warren plant.
• Detroit Diesel is rehiring laid-off workers and adding a third shift.

References:

WTO - WT/BOP/S/19 12 June 2026 - CONSULTATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES BACKGROUND DOCUMENT BY THE WTO SECRETARIAT

docs.wto.org

JAPAN - US - MOU cas.go.jp

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), New Foreign Direct Investment in the United States, 2025, Washington, D.C.: BEA. bea.gov