Manufacturing
White House trims some metals tariffs to 15%
A July 20, 2026 proclamation lowers certain steel, aluminum, and copper rates from 25% to 15%, continuing the shift toward product-by-product rates.
Owen Blackwood · July 23, 2026
Manufacturing
Manufacturing covers production as it is actually run: capacity utilization, tooling and retooling costs, automation and robotics payback, skilled labor availability, quality and yield, and decisions to open, relocate or close plants. Coverage names the suppliers and components involved. Intended for operations leaders, engineers and investors in industrial firms.
Manufacturing
New metals tariff framework runs through 2027
Proclamation 11032 sets differentiated rates for an expanded product list through December 31, 2027, replacing one-rate-for-all with a negotiated ladder.
Owen Blackwood · June 30, 2026
Manufacturing
Defense demand tests the industrial base
Ramping munitions and shipbuilding exposes the same bottleneck everywhere: sub-tier suppliers, machine capacity, and skilled trades.
Owen Blackwood · June 7, 2026
Manufacturing
A plant closure sets off a slow shockwave
Losing a factory costs a town more than the payroll — and the damage and the recovery both arrive on a multi-year clock.
Owen Blackwood · May 16, 2026
Manufacturing
Machine tool orders signal factory turns early
When shops order cutting equipment, output follows months later — one of the cleanest leading indicators manufacturing has.
Monica Cummings · April 23, 2026