The return of US manufacturing is real and good for business

Manufacturing is seeing renewed interest from US companies Walmart It is among the major companies that publicly confirm its commitment to local production.

At CNBC’s inaugural Invest in America forum, John Furner, Walmart’s US CEO, said the company is increasing its investments in American-made products and suppliers, calling it part of a long-term strategic priority.

“Investing in American manufacturing and operations, certainly, is great for business, but it’s also great for hiring. It’s great for jobs. It’s great for the country, and it helps us make our supply chain resilient and dynamic,” Forner said.

Nearly two-thirds of the products Walmart sells are manufactured, grown or assembled in the United States, according to Forner. Walmart is expanding on that front, including a new beef processing facility in Olathe, Kansas, which he said is expected to create more than 600 jobs.

“It’s a big investment, and it’s really important to have high-quality products that are sourced in a more sustainable way and can be delivered to customers,” Forner said.

Forner also pointed to specific categories where domestic production is being revived, citing a recent partnership with USAAntibiotics that aims to “bring back products like amoxicillin so that they are manufactured here in the United States.”

However, global sourcing remains essential to Walmart’s operations.

“We source from all over the world,” Forner said. “There are things grown around the world that tend to do better in other climates, you know, coffee might be an example of that… I think there are a lot of possibilities.”

The increased public focus on US manufacturing comes amid trade policy uncertainty, with tariffs and interest rates remaining central to retailers’ equation on how much inventory to need and what to set prices on. For his part, Wörner was unsure about the future of the fees.

“As policies change, they will change. Environments will change. This is what happens. Commodities change,” he said. “We’ve gotten to a place where we have more declines in the fall than we did at the beginning of the year, and that’s something we’re proud of.”

Despite the uncertain economic headwinds, Forner said Walmart is seeking to lower prices for consumers.

“We want to try to keep prices as low as possible, for as long as possible,” he added. “We’re seeing a resilient customer who is making really smart choices about what’s right for them and their family as they shop.”