In this U.S. election year, presidential candidates in both parties have tied the loss of American manufacturing jobs to “unfair” trading practices and pacts such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). While executives of American exporters cite the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as an agreement that will be of enormous benefit to American workers, for politicians, it is another third-rail issue that few wish to support. Donald Trump, the leading Republican candidate, claims it is “designed for China to come in through the back door.” Hillary Clinton, the leading Democratic candidate, states that the current form of the deal “didn’t meet my standards … My standards for more new, good jobs for Americans, for raising wages for Americans.” And Bernie Sanders said TPP is “designed to protect the interests of the largest multinational corporations at the expense of workers, consumers, the environment and the foundations of American democracy.”
What You Won’t Hear About Trade and Manufacturing on the Campaign Trail
To fix a problem, you need to understand it.
May 02, 2016
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Global Collaboration. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Learn how to overcome barriers when working globally.