How to Move Production Out of China

The reshoring of manufacturing from China is no longer in question. Whether that work ever makes it back to the U.S., however, is another matter entirely. Rising wages in China, coupled with the cost of maintaining long supply lines, are among the reasons why companies are looking for new locations to make their products. If you believe statements by big retailers such as Walmart, a good portion of that capacity is destined for the U.S. Even some apparel production could be coming back. But the trend is by no means guaranteed to stick. On this episode, we speak with Rosemary Coates, executive director of the Reshoring Institute. She traces the extent of the reshoring phenomenon, while laying out the hidden costs that come with shutting down production in China. You don't, for example, want to be that American executive who was held hostage by Chinese workers in a dispute over severance pay. So what will it take to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.? And, for that matter, what kind of work do we want?