It is understandable that the proponents of the current trade agenda would try to assuage critics by promising to help those who lose their jobs from trade. These are the most obvious and hardest hit victims of this trade policy. However, the vast majority of the victims are those who see their wages fall as a result of the impact of being placed in competition with workers in the developing world who are willing to work for low wages.
The impact of trade on the wages of less educated workers, for which the proponents of current trade policies have no agenda (of course the downward pressure on their wages is the point of the trade policy) should be the focus of policy and news reporting, not the chosen topic of the pushers of current U.S. trade policy.
Unlike many news organizations, the Prospect has remained staunchly committed to keeping our journalism free and accessible to all. We believe that independent journalism is crucial for a functioning democracy—but quality reporting comes at a cost.
This year, we’re aiming to raise $75,000 to continue delivering the hard-hitting investigative journalism you’ve come to expect from us. Your support helps us maintain our independence and dig deeper into the stories that matter most.
If you value our reporting, please consider making a contribution today. Any amount helps secure our future and ensure we can continue holding power to account.
