Fair and unfair

One of the main reasons why there is confusion about tariffs is the distinction between fair and unfair. Most are for free and fair tariffs but not for unfair tariffs. In the 90’s when President Clinton signed NAFTA most working people were opposed. They realized this would send manufacturing jobs to Mexico what Rose Perot referred to as a giant sucking sound. The same happened in the 1999 Seattle WTO protests. These were violent protest mostly by liberal groups like labor unions understanding that manufacturing jobs would be going to China. Green activists, blue-collar workers, and consumer advocates formed an eclectic alliance furious at the impact of the WTO’s enforcement of free trade on the environment and workers’ rights. The unfair trade agreements have resulted in a $1.2 trillion dollar deficit and Trump is trying to change to reciprocal tariffs and bring these jobs back home. Key unions like the Teamsters and auto workers are backing Trump but many liberals are opposed. This is one of the reasons that workers are moving toward the republican party.