By Kavita Mistry 
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged foreign companies to not only invest in America but also bring skilled experts to help train American workers in producing advanced, high-tech products.
Earlier this month, Trump noted that several companies, including carmakers from China, Mexico, and Canada, are choosing to manufacture in the U.S. in order to avoid tariffs and take advantage of protectionist policies.
Trump Urges Foreign Firms to Invest in U.S. and Train American Workers in High-Tech Manufacturing
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that the U.S. needs to relearn advanced manufacturing techniques, especially in areas like semiconductors, shipbuilding, and high-tech machinery, by gaining knowledge directly from foreign firms that are investing heavily in the country.
Trump explained his vision by saying, “When Foreign Companies who are building extremely complex products, machines, and various other ‘things,’ come into the United States with massive Investments, I want them to bring their people of expertise for a period of time to teach and train our people how to make these very unique and complex products, as they phase out of our Country, and back into their land.”
He argued that such knowledge transfer is critical for ensuring America fully benefits from foreign investment while restoring U.S. industrial strength.
Trump warned that without this transfer of expertise, much of the foreign investment would be wasted, “If we didn’t do this, all of that massive Investment will never come in the first place — Chips, Semiconductors, Computers, Ships, Trains, and so many other products that we have to learn from others how to make, or, in many cases, relearn, because we used to be great at it, but not anymore.”
Using shipbuilding as an example, Trump pointed out that the U.S. once had the ability to build a ship every day but now “barely builds a ship a year.”
Trump Says Temporary Foreign Expertise Will Help U.S. Achieve Long-Term Industrial Strength
He argued that temporarily allowing expert foreign workers to pass on their know-how would ultimately lead the U.S. to long-term self-sufficiency and even future excellence.
Trump reassured investors by adding: “I don’t want to frighten off or disincentivise Investment into America by outside Countries or Companies. We welcome them, we welcome their employees, and we are willing to proudly say we will learn from them, and do even better than them at their own ‘game,’ sometime into the not too distant future!”
His comments come as the U.S. government pushes to strengthen domestic manufacturing and encourages global manufacturers to set up plants in America, especially in light of tariffs Washington has imposed on some countries.
On the diplomatic front, U.S. and Chinese officials held high-level talks in Madrid, focusing on TikTok, trade, and broader economic issues. A senior Treasury official confirmed the meeting as part of ongoing engagement between the two largest global economies.
The nearly six-hour meeting brought together a U.S. team led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, along with a Chinese delegation headed by Vice Premier He Lifeng, according to Bloomberg.