Made in America: China most competitive manufacturing nation, but U.S. to take over top spot by 2020

Editor’s note: Each Sunday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Made In America,” a round-up of state and global manufacturing news.

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CHINA MOST COMPETITIVE MANUFACTURING NATION, BUT U.S. TO TAKE OVER TOP SPOT BY 2020
Consistent with the previous 2010 and 2013 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index studies, China is again ranked as the most competitive manufacturing nation in 2016, but is expected to slip to second position as global executives provide their perspective on how the next five years will play out. The United States is expected to take over the number one position from China by the end of the decade while Germany holds firm at number three, according to Deloitte’s 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index.

The United States continues to improve its ranking from 4th in 2010 to 3rd in 2013 to 2nd in this year’s study. Moreover, executives expect the United States to assume the top position before the end of the decade while Germany holds strong and steady at the number three position now through the end of the decade.

USA SELECTED AS ‘PARTNER COUNTRY’ AT WORLD’S LARGEST INDUSTRIAL TRADE SHOW, OBAMA TO APPEAR
For the first time in its history, the United States was selected as the “partner country” at the 2016 Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial trade show. Opening on April 25 in Hannover, Germany, President Obama will join German Chancellor Angela Merkel to kick off the five-day trade show with a U.S.-German Business Summit that will highlight the economic relations between Germany and the United States.

Besides keynote speeches by Obama and Markel, high-level government and business representatives from both sides of the Atlantic will discuss topics such as Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, developments in energy markets and the role that digitalization plays for businesses. The summit is hosted by the Federation of German Industries (BDI) in cooperation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

USDA REPORTS RECORD GROWTH IN U.S. ORGANIC PRODUCERS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported a significant increase in the number of certified organic operations in 2015, continuing the trend of double digit growth in the organic sector. According to new data, there are now 21,781 certified organic operations in the U.S. and 31,160 around the world.

According to data released by the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP), the number of domestic certified organic operations increased by almost 12% between 2014 and 2015, representing the highest growth rate since 2008 and an increase of nearly 300% since the count began in 2002. The total retail market for organic products is now valued at more than $39 billion in the United States and over $75 billion worldwide.

Along with consumer demand for organics, increasingly they are asking for local foods. Under Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, USDA has supported providing consumers a stronger connection to their food with more than $1 billion in investments to over 40,000 local and regional food businesses and infrastructure projects since between 2009. Industry data estimates that U.S. local food sales totaled at least $12 billion in 2014, up from $5 billion in 2008.

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