DCHP-3

branch plant

DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)

Spelling variants:
branch-plant

1n. — Industry

a plant or factory owned by a company that has its headquarters in another country.

Type: 5. Frequency — This term appears to be used most frequently in Canada, with some currency in the US, and more limited currency elsewhere (see Chart 1).
See also Gage-3, s.v. "branch plant", ITP Nelson, s.v. "branch plant", COD-2, s.v. "branch plant", which is marked "Cdn".

Quotations

1897
The company started recently with capacity to produce 300 lbs. per day, but so great has been the demand that they are now turning out 10,000 lbs. per day, and the 1,000 horse-power which they are now using requires to be doubled to 2,000 hp. More than this, the company are now preparing to equip a branch plant in Canada, of which THE CANADIAN ENGINEER will give particulars later on.
1907
The [H]am & Nott Manufacturing Company of this city have temporarily abandoned the plan of a branch plant in Ottawa [...]
1917
Branch plant to be established in Canada to have capacity of 9,000 bottles daily.
1939
Cannot we adopt new ideas developed during recent years in other countries without waiting for branch plants or refugees with capital [...]
1977
There will have been an increase in the number of Quebeckers running the Quebec branch plants, [...]
2001
[...] branch plants of multinationals would produce, for example, washing machines only for a Canadian market of 30 million people.
2008
She meticulously explains that the New York McNally Robinson is no branch plant. It has no formal connection to her mother's business in Winnipeg.
2013
And true, we might have given you reason to take us for granted, meekly following U.S. policy like some branch plant toeing the head-office line. Back in 2003, when Ottawa briefly made a few independent moves - yes to same-sex marriage and medical marijuana, no to the war in Iraq - it was deemed remarkable enough that the Washington Post published a piece titled "Whoa! Canada!" that said: "Just when you had all but forgotten that carbon-based life exists above the 49th parallel, those sly Canadians have redefined their entire nation as Berkeley North."
2adj. — Industry, Economy

relating to a branch plant (see meaning 1).

Type: 5. Frequency — During some periods, often relating to Canada's economic dependency on the US. See the quotations.

Quotations

1927
It is understood that in his drive to reduce manufacturing costs Ford will further extend the branch plant system, and some of the branch plants will actually manufacture parts from raw materials [...]
1948
Sir Frederick held out hope for a new branch plant movement in Canada by British capital and cited the case of the automobile assembly plant already planned and an underwear plant for Quebec.
1966
[...] which is going to have to deal with Canada's basically branch plant status [...]
1985
No more talk of a branch plant country and runner of errands for the United States.
2003
Suggestions that Canadian auto racers, teams or promoters approach international corporations that do business here are folly because Canada is a branch-plant country (for the most part) and decisions on things like sponsorship are made in the United States.
2013
At the same time, the U.S. gained access to foreign markets through free trade agreements, integration of the North American economy left Canada with little more than branch plant status and a decline in capital investment made some Canadian plants less competitive.

References

  • ITP Nelson
  • COD-2
  • Gage-3

Images

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 1 Oct. 2013

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 1 Oct. 2013