The U.S. glass manufacturing industry is facing an existential threat from a relentless surge of Chinese exports, risking the closure of tens of thousands of factories and the loss of millions of American jobs.
According to a new analysis by the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), the Chinese government’s aggressive export strategy has flooded the U.S. market with subsidized goods, decimating domestic glass producers.
The report highlights the glass industry as one of the hardest hit by China’s predatory trade practices. From 1987 to 2007, China’s glass output soared by 18% annually, fueled by over $30 billion in government subsidies for energy, raw materials, and other inputs. This explosive growth propelled Chinese exports, which tripled in the U.S. market from 2000 to 2008, capturing a staggering 31% share.
As a result, the U.S. glass industry shed nearly 40,000 manufacturing jobs between 2004 and 2008, with the number of domestic plants plummeting from 35 to just 21 over the following decade. Meanwhile, China expanded its glass production, adding 34 new flat glass lines in 2010 alone.
Experts warn that this relentless onslaught of subsidized Chinese exports shows no sign of slowing. “China has no plans to turn to domestic consumption as a growth model; heavily subsidized, export-led manufacturing is its tested vehicle,” the AAM report states. “Its industries will eagerly sell into foreign markets at a loss to build market share because it can exert dominance over those markets. The goal is control.”
With 50% of Americans now calling for a crackdown on unfair trade practices, policymakers are under pressure to take decisive action. The AAM recommends a suite of measures, including imposing targeted tariffs, strengthening trade enforcement tools, and ensuring domestic manufacturers can fully benefit from government incentives.
Time is of the essence. As the U.S. glass industry continues to hemorrhage jobs and shutter plants, the stakes could not be higher. Failure to confront China’s export aggression could devastate one of America’s most iconic manufacturing sectors, with ripple effects felt across local economies and communities nationwide. The future of U.S. glass manufacturing hangs in the balance.
Source:Economic Policy Institute with additional information added by GlassBalkan
