Episode 269

Tariffs, Trade Wars, and American Jobs

February 18, 2025
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Tariffs are often promoted as a way to protect American workers—but do they actually work? Dr. Erica Owen takes us through the fast-moving shifts in U.S. trade policy under President Trump and the ripple effects they’re having on businesses, workers, and consumers. Who benefits, who pays the price, and what happens next? From the backlash against globalization to the forces reshaping American jobs, Dr. Owen explains what’s at stake—and how policymakers can better support workers caught in the crossfire.

For more on this topic

Read Owen’s SSN key findings brief, Why Protectionist Trade Policies Still Won’t Deliver for U.S. Workers.

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