U.S. manufacturing comeback is real and good for business

Manufacturing is seeing renewed interest from corporate America. Walmart It is among the major companies that have publicly confirmed their commitment to domestic production.

At the launch of CNBC Invest in America ForumWalmart USA CEO John Furner stated that the company is increasing its investments in US-made products and suppliers, describing this as part of a long-standing strategic priority.

“Investing in U.S. manufacturing and U.S. operations is great from a business standpoint, of course, but it’s also great from an employment standpoint. It’s great from an employment standpoint. It’s great for the country and it helps our supply chain be flexible and dynamic,” Furner said.

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

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

Furner also pointed to specific categories where domestic production has been revived, citing a recent development. Partnership with USAntibiotics He aimed to “bring back products like amoxicillin to be produced here in the United States.”

Still, global sourcing is vital to Walmart’s operations.

“We source from all over the world,” Furner said. “There are things that grow all over the world that do better in other climates, you know, coffee would be an example… I think there are a lot of possibilities.”

The public’s growing interest in U.S. manufacturing comes amid uncertainty in trade policy; Tariffs and interest rates are at the heart of the equation of how much inventory retailers will stock and what they will set prices for. Furner, however, was unsure about the future of taxes.

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

Furner said despite uncertain economic headwinds, Walmart is trying to lower prices for consumers.

“We want to try to keep prices as low as possible as much as we can,” he said. “We’re seeing a resilient shopper making really smart choices when shopping about what’s right for them and their family.”