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The twenty imports United States is best placed to replace.

United States imported USD 2666bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 1360bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 86bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
699products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
1521products United States already exports well
3552product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing United States already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in United States would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and United States does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Wrist-watches: (not electrically operated), automatic winding, whether or not incorporating a stop-watch facility...HS 910121

    Comes fromSwitzerland 94%, 60 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPocket-watches and other watches, including stop-watches: (excluding... (exports USD 24m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 265m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 515m
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 1.6bn, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2); Switzerland supplies 94 per cent (2).

    USD 1.6bnup 20% on 2022
  2. 2

    Tractors: road tractors for semi-trailers, with only compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or...HS 870121

    Comes fromMexico 99%, 20 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating... (exports USD 22bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2.7bn; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 3.5bn
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 9.7bn, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); Mexico supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 9.7bndown 5% on 2022
  3. 3

    Spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages: n.e.c. in heading no. 2208HS 220890

    Comes fromMexico 95%, 85 source countries
    Nearest export strengthEthyl alcohol and other spirits: denatured, of any strength (exports USD 2.8bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 213m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 2.9bn
    Countries that export it well22

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 5.5bn, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); Mexico supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 5.5bnup 6% on 2022
  4. 4

    Mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders: with a 360 degree revolving super structureHS 842952

    Comes fromJapan 75%, 37 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTurbines: parts of turbo-jets and turbo-propellers (exports USD 20bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 812m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 1.1bn
    Countries that export it well11

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 5.5bn, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 36 per cent (1); Japan supplies 75 per cent (2).

    USD 5.5bndown 1% on 2022
  5. 5

    Vehicle parts: steering wheels, steering columns and steering boxes: parts thereofHS 870894

    Comes fromMexico 64%, 72 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating... (exports USD 22bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1.9bn; 8 more lines in the heading, USD 25bn
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 5.3bn, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 40 per cent (1); Mexico supplies 64 per cent (2).

    USD 5.3bnup 15% on 2022
  6. 6

    Odoriferous substances and mixtures: of a kind used in the food or drink industriesHS 330210

    Comes fromIreland 93%, 71 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for... (exports USD 5.0bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1.7bn
    Countries that export it well15

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 4.4bn, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 36 per cent (1); Ireland supplies 93 per cent (2).

    USD 4.4bnup 3% on 2022
  7. 7

    Wood: coniferous species, of S-P-F (spruce (Picea spp.), pine (Pinus spp.) and fir (Abies spp.)), sawn or chipped...HS 440713

    Comes fromCanada 98%, 23 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood: for fuel, sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in... (exports USD 2.2bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 20m; 10 more lines in the heading, USD 3.4bn
    Countries that export it well8

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 4.2bn, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 32 per cent (1); Canada supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 4.2bndown 45% on 2022
  8. 8

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: potassic, potassium chlorideHS 310420

    Comes fromCanada 83%, 26 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFertilizers, mineral or chemical: ammonium dihydrogenorthophosphate... (exports USD 1.1bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 602m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 77m
    Countries that export it well11

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 3.6bn, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 31 per cent (1); Canada supplies 83 per cent (2).

    USD 3.6bndown 39% on 2022
  9. 9

    Vehicles: with only compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of...HS 870423

    Comes fromMexico 75%, 16 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating... (exports USD 22bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1.6bn; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 3.0bn
    Countries that export it well17

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 3.6bn, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 30 per cent (1); Mexico supplies 75 per cent (2).

    USD 3.6bnup 84% on 2022
  10. 10

    Wrist-watches: whether or not incorporating a stop-watch facility, with automatic windingHS 910221

    Comes fromSwitzerland 93%, 78 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPocket-watches and other watches, including stop-watches: (excluding... (exports USD 24m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 267m; 5 more lines in the heading, USD 1.3bn
    Countries that export it well6

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 3.0bn, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 30 per cent (1); Switzerland supplies 93 per cent (2).

    USD 3.0bnup 21% on 2022
  11. 11

    Oriented strand board (OSB) of wood, whether or not agglomerated with resins or other organic binding substancesHS 441012

    Comes fromCanada 93%, 30 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood: for fuel, sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in... (exports USD 2.2bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 78m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 352m
    Countries that export it well14

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 2.2bn, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); Canada supplies 93 per cent (2).

    USD 2.2bndown 33% on 2022
  12. 12

    Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons: covered and closed, not self-propelledHS 860691

    Comes fromMexico 95%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthRailway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock: parts, axles and... (exports USD 550m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 42m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 288m
    Countries that export it well6

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 2.2bn, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); Mexico supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 2.2bnfrom USD 38m in 2022
  13. 13

    Sulphonamides: n.e.c. in heading no. 2935HS 293590

    Comes fromIreland 62%, 35 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPolypeptide hormones, protein hormones and glycoprotein hormones... (exports USD 8.8bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 190m
    Countries that export it well7

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 2.0bn, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); Ireland supplies 62 per cent (2).

    USD 2.0bndown 20% on 2022
  14. 14

    Pacemakers: for stimulating heart muscles (excluding parts and accessories)HS 902150

    Comes fromIreland 48%, 33 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMedical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances: n.e.c. in... (exports USD 17bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 368m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 2.3bn
    Countries that export it well9

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 1.8bn, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 19 per cent (2); Ireland supplies 48 per cent (1).

    USD 1.8bnup 0% on 2022
  15. 15

    Cigars, cheroots and cigarillos: containing tobacco including the weight of every band, wrapper or attachment theretoHS 240210

    Comes fromDominican Republic 66%, 42 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 37m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 263m
    Countries that export it well17

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 1.4bn, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); Dominican Republic supplies 66 per cent (2).

    USD 1.4bndown 0% on 2022
  16. 16

    Chocolate & other food preparations containing cocoa: in blocks, slabs or bars weighing more than 2kg or in liquid...HS 180620

    Comes fromCanada 75%, 64 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPerfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations: pre-shave, shaving or...
    Exports of this lineUSD 514m; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 3.5bn
    Countries that export it well20

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 1.4bn, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 32 per cent (1); Canada supplies 75 per cent (2).

    USD 1.4bnup 48% on 2022
  17. 17

    Uncoated paper and paperboard (not 4801 or 4803): over 10% by weight of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed...HS 480261

    Comes fromCanada 92%, 32 source countries
    Nearest export strengthKraft paper and paperboard: kraftliner, uncoated, unbleached, in... (exports USD 2.2bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 53m; 6 more lines in the heading, USD 1.2bn
    Countries that export it well10

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 833m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 21 per cent (2); Canada supplies 92 per cent (2).

    USD 833mdown 20% on 2022
  18. 18

    Newsprint: made of fibres obtained essentially by a chemi-mechanical process or of a weight, per m2, of more than 57g...HS 480100

    Comes fromCanada 98%, 25 source countries
    Nearest export strengthKraft paper and paperboard: kraftliner, uncoated, unbleached, in... (exports USD 2.2bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 75m
    Countries that export it well13

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 469m, top 23 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); Canada supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 469mdown 37% on 2022
  19. 19

    Crustacean preparations: lobster, prepared or preservedHS 160530

    Comes fromCanada 100%, 12 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMeat preparations: sausages and similar products, of meat, meat... (exports USD 846m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 8m; 12 more lines in the heading, USD 2.8bn
    Countries that export it well2

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 378m, top 27 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); Canada supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 378mup 10% on 2022
  20. 20

    Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1000 but not over 1500ccHS 870322

    Comes fromMexico 45%, 59 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating... (exports USD 22bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1.4bn; 5 more lines in the heading, USD 64bn
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 27bn, top 0 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United States's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); Mexico supplies 45 per cent (1).

    USD 27bnup 43% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products United States already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston... imports USD 92bn, exports USD 22bn, top source Mexico 28%
  • Units of automatic data processing machines: processing units other than those... imports USD 61bn, exports USD 15bn, top source Mexico 66%
  • Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological... imports USD 44bn, exports USD 20bn, top source Germany 25%
  • Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston... imports USD 30bn, exports USD 13bn, top source Japan 26%
  • Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, for... imports USD 25bn, exports USD 10bn, top source Mexico 88%
  • Semiconductor media: solid-state non-volatile storage devices, whether or not... imports USD 17bn, exports USD 4.7bn, top source South Korea 31%
  • Vehicles: parts and accessories, of bodies, other than safety seat belts imports USD 20bn, exports USD 7.9bn, top source Mexico 42%
  • Boards, panels, consoles, desks and other bases: for electric control or the... imports USD 19bn, exports USD 7.8bn, top source Mexico 44%
  • Electrical machines and apparatus: having individual functions, not specified... imports USD 14bn, exports USD 4.6bn, top source Mexico 30%
  • Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological... imports USD 15bn, exports USD 5.9bn, top source Ireland 79%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 3552 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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