The Winston Marshall Show Oren Cass - Why FREE TRADE Is Actually HURTING American Workers & The Case For Tariffs
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Mar 8, 2025 
Oren Cass, an economist and political advisor, critiques international free trade and advocates for tariffs to protect American jobs. He discusses how free trade, particularly with China, has contributed to job loss and economic decline. Cass emphasizes the historical context of protectionism, linking deindustrialization to broader social issues like the opioid epidemic. The conversation highlights the necessity of balancing consumer interests with the need for a stable American workforce amid shifting global trade dynamics.
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Free Trade's Limitations
- Free trade theory acknowledges potential benefits, but only under specific conditions like balanced exchange.
- Unbalanced trade, like with China, leads to job losses without reciprocal gains, hindering American workers.
Beyond Cheap Consumption
- Focusing solely on consumption overlooks the importance of jobs and the long-term effects of deindustrialization.
- Initial benefits of cheaper goods fade as investment, innovation, and social fabric decline over time.
Opioid Epidemic as Societal Decay
- The opioid epidemic in the U.S. mirrors the alcoholism crisis in post-Soviet Russia, highlighting societal decay.
- Job losses due to deindustrialization contribute to this crisis, as economists failed to account for the human cost.
