Shawn Fain, the president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, has recently voiced his support for President Donald Trump’s tariffs. This is notable, especially since Fain endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
On a CBS News interview, Fain explained his perspective on tariffs, particularly in the context of U.S. manufacturing. He pointed out that over the last 30 years, many manufacturing jobs have vanished from the U.S., with NAFTA being a major factor. "We’ve seen more than 90,000 manufacturing facilities leave the United States. In the past 20 years, the Big Three automakers—General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford—have closed 65 plants," Fain stated. He believes tariffs can encourage companies to bring jobs back to America and invest in local workers.
Fain acknowledges that tariffs aren’t a complete solution. He emphasizes that they’re just one tool to help revitalize the manufacturing sector and support the American workforce. Many workers, he says, feel neglected after years of economic shifts.
His views on tariffs align with Trump’s administration, which argues that while tariffs might disrupt the economy temporarily, they will ultimately strengthen U.S. manufacturing in the long run. However, a recent report from the Tax Foundation warns that Trump’s tariffs might reduce the U.S. GDP by 0.4% and could result in a loss of 309,000 jobs. This raises concerns among economists, as they suggest that tariffs could lead to higher prices for consumers and even push the economy toward recession.
Fain’s stance is particularly interesting given his past criticism of Trump during the election, branding him a "scab." Yet, he recently praised Trump’s trade policies, suggesting these tariffs could help end a "free trade disaster" affecting working-class communities.
Reactions to these tariffs are mixed. Trump himself stated, “I couldn’t care less if [foreign automakers] raise prices because people are going to start buying American cars.” He believes that higher prices on international cars could boost the sales of American-made vehicles.
In contrast, Stanford professors Neale Mahoney and Ryan Cumming highlight the widespread disapproval of tariffs among economists. A survey during Trump’s first term found that 93% of experts disagreed that tariffs on steel and aluminum would benefit Americans. Their analysis suggests that past tariffs primarily hurt U.S. consumers, especially low-income households.
Looking ahead, new tariffs are set to be introduced on April 2, which Trump has nicknamed "Liberation Day." These tariffs will include reciprocal taxes to match those imposed by other countries, with a special focus on automotive imports. The debate surrounding tariffs continues, balancing the potential for domestic job growth against concerns over economic impacts and consumer prices.
You can read more about the implications of these tariffs in detail at Newsweek.
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Source linkU.S. Politics,Donald Trump,Tariffs,Economy,Economists,Inflation,Union
