How the President's new US trade policy is reshaping global business decisions
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When President Donald Trump introduced a sweeping tariff policy aimed at foreign imports – particularly from China – many analysts sounded the alarm. Critics argued that tariffs would spark trade wars, increase consumer prices, and isolate the United States from global markets. Yet, so far, the economic effect is looking exactly the way supporters of the tariffs predicted.
For a country like the United States, which holds the world's reserve currency and is one of the largest consumer markets globally, tariffs function differently than they might for a smaller economy.
Because international trade is conducted largely in US dollars, foreign producers are often forced to absorb a significant portion of tariff costs rather than simply passing them on to American consumers. This creates a strategic advantage: it pressures foreign manufacturers to move production to the US, invest in American jobs, and contribute to domestic economic growth rather than relying on cheap overseas labor. Additionally, tariffs act as a counterweight to decades of unfair trade practices that have hollowed out American industry and created massive trade deficits.
While critics claim tariffs raise consumer prices, they overlook the long-term benefits – higher wages, stronger domestic supply chains, and greater national economic independence. In a global economy where the US is both the largest buyer and the financial anchor, tariffs are not a burden but a bargaining chip, forcing other nations to play by America's rules rather than exploiting its open markets.
And it is this movement of production from foreign nations to the US that has catalyzed a new investment boom inside the United States.
APPLE LEADS THE CHARGE WITH A $500 BILLION INVESTMENT
In a stunning announcement, Apple committed to investing $500 billion in the US economy over the next four years. Although not a "foreign" company, Apple has outsourced large portions of their production overseas, particularly in China, for decades.
This new pledge includes a major push into research and development, with plans to create 20,000 new jobs in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence. Apple is also expanding its manufacturing presence, particularly in Texas, where it aims to build state-of-the-art AI server facilities.
This move is partially driven by the economic realities imposed by tariffs on Chinese goods. Rather than continue relying on China's supply chains and risk higher costs, Apple is strategically positioning itself closer to home. This decision not only hedges against geopolitical risks but also strengthens the company's alignment with Washington's "America First" economic policies.
SOFTBANK'S RENEWED INVESTMENT: A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN US INNOVATION
One of the most significant foreign investment pledges under the Trump administration came from SoftBank Group, Japan's multinational investment giant. In December 2024, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son announced a staggering $100 billion commitment to US-based projects over the next four years, with the goal of creating 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence and related infrastructure. This investment underscores the United States' status as the premier destination for cutting-edge technology and innovation, reaffirming America’s leadership in AI, robotics, and next-generation computing.
This latest pledge builds on SoftBank's previous commitment in 2016, when the company announced a $50 billion investment aimed at bolstering American entrepreneurship and technological advancement. That earlier initiative helped accelerate growth in AI-driven industries, fueling new startups and strengthening US leadership in automation. With its renewed investment, SoftBank is doubling down on America's economic potential, demonstrating that major global players see the US not just as a consumer market but as the hub for the future of innovation. This commitment will create thousands of high-paying jobs and further solidify the US as the dominant force in the 21st-century economy.
Since January 2025, several other significant foreign investments have been announced, reflecting global confidence in the US economy. Notable commitments include:
Saudi Arabia's $600 Billion Pledge: In a landmark announcement on January 24, 2025, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during a call with President Trump, declared the kingdom's intention to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years. This substantial commitment aims to strengthen economic ties and foster mutual growth between the two nations. ​AP News
Stargate AI Initiative: On January 21, 2025, a consortium comprising OpenAI, SoftBank Group, Oracle Corporation, and investment firm MGX unveiled plans to invest up to $500 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure in the US by 2029. Dubbed the "Stargate Project," this venture seeks to position the United States at the forefront of AI advancements.Â
GE Vernova: In January 2025, GE Vernova announced plans to invest nearly $600 million in its US factories and facilities over the next two years. This investment is projected to create more than 1,500 new manufacturing and engineering jobs across the country, focusing on expanding capacity in gas power, grid solutions, nuclear, and onshore wind manufacturing sites. ​
THE ECONOMICS OF DOMESTIC INVESTMENT
When multinational corporations choose to invest in the United States instead of China, India or Southeast Asia, the economic effects are profound.
Perhaps the most immediate benefit is job creation. Factories, research centers, and new corporate offices mean thousands of new jobs – not just for engineers and factory workers, but for the entire ecosystem that supports them. Restaurants, housing developments, schools, and local businesses all experience a surge in demand.
Moreover, unlike outsourcing to low-wage countries, domestic investments often lead to better-paying jobs. When companies like Apple hire US workers, they typically offer salaries and benefits that far exceed those in China or India, strengthening America's middle class.
The global shutdowns related to the COVID-19 scare exposed the fragility of global supply chains. Companies that relied too heavily on Chinese manufacturing faced shortages, delays and skyrocketing shipping costs. One of the goals of tariffs is to ensure that by shifting production back to the US, corporations can reduce their dependence on volatile international supply chains and geopolitics to ensure steadier access to materials and goods.
For national security reasons, this shift is also crucial. Essential industries – such as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals – have been flagged as critical sectors that should not rely too heavily on foreign suppliers.
THE EMPLOYMENT VISA QUESTION: ENSURING THESE JOBS GO TO AMERICANS
While tariffs aim to protect domestic industries, they can also lead to higher production costs. Creating well-paid jobs in America raises the cost of creating a good when compared to paying a worker in China or India to do the same. These costs are then folded in to the final cost of the good when it hits the market.
However, this creates a problem: If Americans face higher prices due to tariffs, but companies still prioritize foreign labor through programs like H-1B visas, then US workers bear the costs without seeing the benefits. For decades, while US corporations outsourced jobs to global supply chains, they simultaneously lobbied government for work programs like H-1B (though there are others) that also undercut American workers access to jobs that stayed in the United States. It was this, along with inflationary government spending, that has hollowed out the American middle class – specifically in key swing states like Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.
This is precisely why the Trump administration must ensure that these new investments translate into American jobs. Higher prices are only justifiable if they come with higher wages and better employment opportunities for US citizens. Otherwise, tariffs risk simply raising costs while allowing corporations to continue importing foreign labor.
While increased domestic investment is a positive development, there is a potential pitfall that policymakers must address – ensuring that these new jobs actually go to American workers, rather than being filled by foreign labor through employment visa programs like H-1B.
The H-1B visa program allows US companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers, primarily in the tech sector. While it was designed to fill labor gaps, it has primarily been used to import foreign labor and undercut American workers.
With Apple and other tech giants ramping up investments in AI, semiconductors and software development, there is a real risk that much of this job growth could bypass American workers entirely. If the government does not enforce strict labor policies, companies may simply use these new investments as an excuse to expand their use of H-1B visas, undercutting the very workforce tariffs were meant to protect.
This was one of the main reasons for the Christmas H-1B wars on X, where many of the same high skilled American workers (who have been affected by decades of immigration, outsourcing, and DEI) clashed with people like Marc Andreessen, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, all of whom will benefit tremendously from Trump's election, tariffs, and renewed investment, but all of whom support importing increased numbers of foreign workers to reap the benefits of the hard fought election victory.
CONCLUSION: THE FUTURE OF US INVESTMENT
Trump's tariffs were initially met with skepticism, but they have undeniably reshaped global corporate decision making. The policy has spurred a wave of investment in the US – creating jobs, strengthening domestic supply chains, and reducing reliance on foreign manufacturing.
However, to truly realize the benefits of this economic shift, the government must ensure that these jobs go to Americans. If companies continue to exploit visa programs and import cheaper labor, then the entire purpose of reshoring investment will be undermined and all of this work will fail to produce much, if any, benefit for American workers.
The next step in America's industrial revival is not just bringing businesses back – but ensuring that the benefits flow to the American workforce, securing a stronger, more independent economy for future generations.
Arthur is a former editor and consultant. Born in India to missionary parents, he spent his early career working in development for NGOs in Asia, Central America, and Africa.
Arthur has an educational background in history and psychology, with certifications from the University of Oxford and Leiden in the economics, politics, and ethics of mass migration and comparative theories in terrorism and counterterrorism. He is currently launching CivWest, a company focused on building capital to fund restorative projects and create resilient systems across the Western world.
HOW SOULS AND LIBERTYÂ WILL MOVE FORWARD THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
There can be no doubt we have witnessed an extraordinary moment in the history of the United States and the world. The election of Donald Trump to a second Presidential term is a great victory for Christian patriots, but it is not a complete or final victory. Rather, it is a reprieve from the ceaseless assaults on life, liberty and faith we have had to endure for four years.
Donald Trump is president once again, and his decisions, Cabinet selections, and force of personality are shaping the United States and the world in ways we could only dream of.
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