Thea Lee

Thea Lee, an economist and former Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor, joins Todd Tucker, a political scientist and trade expert at the Roosevelt Institute. They debate the need for labor rights in trade and how past agreements have exploited workers. Lee highlights the success of USMCA in enforcing labor protection, while Tucker discusses how industrial policy can bolster domestic supply chains. Together, they argue for a shift towards worker-centered trade that strengthens both democracy and economic stability.