Trump Manufacturing Revival Doesn’t Add Up for These Businesses

President-elect Donald Trump has a goal to rely less on China and turn the US into the world’s manufacturing superpower. For Ohio business owner Ryan Neel, it’s tough to make the math work.

He runs Neel’s Saddlery & Harness, which imports industrial-size sewing machines from China that his customers use to make heavy-duty gear such as parachute straps and gun holsters. Setting up production in the US for a machine that currently retails for $3,000 would require more than tripling the price, to $10,000.

“We have run the numbers ad nauseam,” says Neel. “At that price nobody would buy ...