NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey: Johnson & Johnson is ramping up its U.S. investments even as global trade tensions resurface with plans to boost its domestic spending by 25 percent over the next four years.

The investments would total more than US$55 billion amid concerns that drug imports could soon face steep tariffs under the Trump administration.

As part of the announcement, the company officially broke ground on a new plant in Wilson, North Carolina, one of four new U.S. facilities it plans to build. J&J did not disclose the locations of the other sites.

The investment increase is measured against the company's spending over the previous four years. While the headline figure is significant, some analysts believe much of the spending had already been planned.

"The $55 billion number also includes a portion of their regular, annual R&D and IT spending. So, they've thrown a lot in there to get to a big, splashy number," said Jeff Jonas, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, which holds shares in J&J.

J&J joins other major corporations—including Eli Lilly and Apple—that are expanding U.S. operations as the administration pushes for more domestic manufacturing. Lilly recently pledged $27 billion for new U.S. plants, while Apple has said it plans to invest $500 billion over four years, though some of that may include previous commitments.

"In the short term, they are trying to lobby for a tariff exemption. In the medium/longer term, everyone is moving even further towards a local manufacturing strategy. Even if there is a tariff deal, the era of free trade and unrestricted globalization is over," Jonas said.

While the proposed 25% tariff on drug imports could hit companies with global manufacturing footprints, Jonas added that it is "unlikely to hit J&J's medicine business, but could have a minor impact on the medical devices unit."

J&J said it already has more manufacturing sites in the U.S. than any other country and plans to expand existing facilities and R&D infrastructure.

"If J&J can capture their future pharmaceutical revenue from domestically produced products, then that certainly will be better in the face of the proposed tariffs," said Brian Mulberry, portfolio manager at Zacks Investment Management.

The new $2 billion site in Wilson is expected to create 5,000 construction jobs and more than 500 permanent positions. It will produce treatments for cancer, immune and neurological diseases.