CHICAGO—Continuing the reshoring trend of the past few years, U.S. companies are increasingly importing goods made closer to home and relying less on goods from low-cost countries in Asia.

FRANKFURT, Germany—Sales of industrial robots in China increased by 19 percent in 2020, according to preliminary data from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

WUHAN, China — Honda Motor Co. said it has partially resumed four-wheel vehicle production here, the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak, after obtaining permission from local authorities.

KIRA, Uganda—Chinese electronics company ENGO Holdings has launched a computer and mobile phone assembly and manufacturing plant in Uganda.

SHANGHAI, CHINA--A New York University student recently interned undercover in a factory here that assembles Apple iPhones. He worked six days per week installing screws into iPhones for about $2.50 per hour. More

BEIJING—China’s first domestic manufacturer of jet engines, Aero Engine Corp. of China, has officially opened for business. The multibillion dollar conglomerate will employ some 100,000 people and incorporate subsidiaries of various state-owned firms, including the Aviation Industrial Corp. of China.

DONGGUAN, China—Shenzhen Everwin Precision Technology Co., a manufacturer of connectors and other electronics components, is building a new factory here that will use only robots for production. The factory will initially be equipped with 1,000 robots, with the aim of reducing the current workforce of 1,800 to about 200.

BEIJING — In one factory in southern China, sleeping on the job is not frowned upon. In fact, it's being strongly encouraged by management. Workers at the computer hardware factory in the Dongguan have been encouraged to use two ten minute breaks to rest their eyes and sleep.