JCB Expands San Antonio Plant Amid Tariff Challenges

British construction-equipment company JCB is doubling the size of its new manufacturing plant in San Antonio, Texas, from 500,000 square feet to 1 million square feet in response to President Donald Trump's newly imposed tariffs on imports. This expansion aims to mitigate the impact of a 10% tariff on goods imported from the UK, which JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald acknowledges will affect their business in the short term. The $500 million facility, expected to start production next year and employ 1,500 people, marks JCB's most significant investment in North America. Chairman Anthony Bamford stated that Trump's tariffs have prompted JCB to focus on increasing U.S. production, a key market for JCB since 1964. The expansion, supported by over $30 million in local subsidies, reflects JCB's strategy to adapt to changing trade policies and maintain its competitive edge. Despite the tariffs, JCB remains hopeful for a trade deal between the UK and the U.S. to ease future trade tensions.