US President Donald Trump has accused China of stealing manufacturing jobs from the United States. But he might be surprised to see what's happening at a manufacturing plant in California.
At the International Vitamin Corporation (IVC) manufacturing plant, the founder will tell you how China saved American manufacturing jobs.
Steven Dai is the CEO and founder of the plant. He laughs and smiles as he talks about it.
"We are very proud of ourselves. We had an employee base of 200 employees when we took over this company. So in eight years we have grown that to 1,100. So we've expanded our base and grown probably about six times!"
Steven grew up in Henan Province and moved to the US to attend Rutgers University. He graduated with a master's degree in 2000. Ten years later with foreign direct investment, most of which from China, he was able to buy the IVC.
He used the money to upgrade the facilities and expand the company.
In the process he has added all important manufacturing jobs in the US. He says the investment is being used to build something that will last a long term and they are not expecting to generate quick or easy cash. His company produces vitamins and nutritional materials that are sold at all the major retailers in the United States.
The IVC has facilities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina with plans to add more plants in other states.
The success of the IVC is an illustration of the power of foreign direct investment from China.
A recent Pew Research study showed that China was outpacing other countries in creating jobs in the US through FDI.
The China General Chamber of Commerce tracks the numbers. Since 2005, Chinese member companies have poured in tens of billions of dollars into the US economy and provided jobs for hundreds of thousands of workers directly and indirectly. And while foreign direct investment is down dramatically in 2018, IVC executives feel it has become a story lost in the trade war narrative.
"I think we see a huge symbiotic relationship in our business certainly with China and the US. I think the story is not getting out there because it's very easy and convenient to vilify one side or the other. In the end, you are trying to create jobs, you are trying to enhance people's living, trying to build better lives for people and we can do that in partnership with foreign entities," said Eric Bauer, chief financial officer at the IVC.
The IVC will continue to churn out items to help with consumers' nutrition and wellness, but the company knows it will never be able to manufacture a remedy to improve the health of the US-China trade relationship.