Washington, D.C. – Johnson & Johnson has announced plans to invest over $55 billion (€50 billion) in constructing four new manufacturing plants across the United States.
The pharmaceutical giant announced on Friday that the threat of drug import tariffs proposed by the Trump administration pushes companies to expand domestic production.
The company will develop these new facilities over the next four years, including one in Wilson, North Carolina, where construction officially began on Friday.
According to J&J, this investment represents a 25% increase in spending compared to the previous four years.
The announcement follows a similar move by Eli Lilly, which recently committed to boosting its U.S. operations in preparation for a potential 25% tariff on pharmaceutical imports.
J&J and Eli Lilly have extensive operations in Ireland, a country that U.S. President Donald Trump recently criticized for attracting critical firms with favourable tax policies.
During a White House meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin last week, Trump reiterated his push to bring more drug manufacturing back to the U.S.
Johnson & Johnson’s presence in Ireland remains substantial, with 6,000 employees spread across 10 Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Galway, and Mayo facilities.
However, the company’s latest investment signals a shift in focus toward expanding domestic production.
Trump has consistently pressured pharmaceutical companies to increase U.S.-based production, aligning with his broader agenda of strengthening domestic manufacturing. Other industries, including Apple, have also responded by announcing manufacturing expansions in recent weeks.
J&J’s upcoming Wilson facility alone will require an investment of more than $2 billion (€1.84 billion). The project is expected to generate 5,000 jobs during construction and create over 500 permanent positions across North Carolina.
The site will specialize in producing specialized for cancer, immune-mediated diseases, and neurological disorders.
Currently, J&J has more U.S. manufacturing sites than any other country. The company has also confirmed plans to expand several existing U.S. facilities while investing in new research and technology infrastructure.
However, specific details about the locations of its three additional plants have not yet been disclosed.
