Tariffs Won’t Bring Back Union Jobs in Auto Factories
The president of the United Auto Workers is praising Trump’s trade policy, but it’s not likely to result in more employment in the Midwest.
Where’s it going?
Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty Images North AmericaPresident Donald Trump’s tariffs are getting two thumbs down from pretty much everyone, including a few brave Republicans in Congress, but there is a notable exception: the United Auto Workers, which was vocally critical of Trump during last year’s presidential campaign. Last week, UAW President Shawn Fain hailed Trump “for stepping up to end the free trade disaster that has devastated working class communities for decades.”
There is only one problem. Even in the unlikely event that tariffs do lead to a significant increase in US automobile manufacturing, the jobs are extremely unlikely to return to UAW-organized plants in the Midwest.