Johnson & Johnson to spend $55bn on four manufacturing plants in US

Trump administration has been threatening duties on pharmaceuticals firms who have invested heavily in Ireland and worldwide

Johnson & Johnson plans to spend over $55bn (€50bn) to build four plants in the US, it said on Friday, as a threat of drug import duties from the Trump administration forces companies to expand their manufacturing operations domestically. Picture: Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

Johnson & Johnson plans to spend over $55bn (€50bn) to build four plants in the US, it said on Friday, as a threat of drug import duties from the Trump administration forces companies to expand their manufacturing operations domestically.

The new plants will be built over the next four years, including in Wilson, North Carolina, where the pharmaceutical giant officially broke ground on Friday. The drug and device maker said the investment represents a 25% increase compared to the last four years.