The article discusses how Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs and trade policies won’t effectively address the real challenges facing American manufacturing jobs, which are primarily threatened by AI and automation rather than foreign competition. The piece explains that while Trump focuses on international trade and promises to impose high tariffs on imported goods, the more significant threat to American workers comes from technological advancement. Manufacturing output in the U.S. has actually increased over recent decades, but employment has decreased due to automation and improved efficiency. The article cites studies showing that robots and automation were responsible for the loss of up to 70% of manufacturing jobs between 1990 and 2007, with international trade accounting for only about 20-30% of job losses. Looking forward, AI is expected to accelerate this trend, with capabilities to automate increasingly complex tasks. The article emphasizes that policies focused solely on trade barriers and tariffs miss the larger technological transformation occurring in manufacturing. Instead of protectionist measures, experts suggest the focus should be on workforce development, education, and training programs to help workers adapt to an increasingly automated economy. The conclusion warns that political rhetoric about foreign competition diverts attention from preparing for the more fundamental changes that AI and automation will bring to the American workforce.
Source: https://time.com/7276087/trump-tariffs-ai-automation-robots/