Jacobin Radio Behind the News: Contradictions of the Trump Tariffs w/ Sam Gindin
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Apr 8, 2025 Jason Wade, a senior advisor to UAW President Sean Fain, shares insights on the union's surprising endorsement of Trump's auto tariffs. Sam Gindin, an economist and former advisor to the Canadian Auto Workers Union, dives into the complexities surrounding tariffs, arguing that they offer limited benefits to workers while obscuring broader economic issues. The conversation highlights the fragmentation within the labor movement and calls for increased solidarity and comprehensive strategies to address worker rights amid global trade tensions.
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Tariff Distraction
- Tariffs distract from workers' real problems like inequality, healthcare, and the environment.
- Focusing on tariffs alone is insufficient without addressing these broader issues.
Reagan's Quotas
- Reagan's quotas on Japanese cars in the '80s led to job growth in the non-union South.
- This increased pressure on Northern workers and didn't solve the industry's decline.
EV Transition
- Tariffs won't solve the auto industry's main challenge: transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs).
- Tariffs might only block Chinese EVs, hindering the industry's progress in this crucial area.