How Not to Save American Jobs

HE defeat of “fast track” boosts protectionism in both political parties. The labor unions and Dick Gephardt were already emotionally committed to

“fair trade” as a means of saving American jobs. They will now calculate that it is also good politics. Pat Buchanan will be similarly tempted to stress tariffs rather than immi- gration reform in his “America First” package. So the political debate may continue to ignore the potential eco- nomic trade-offs between free trade and immigration— although new research shows they can be dramatic.

GJ

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George J. Borjas

HE defeat of “fast track” boosts protectionism in both political parties. The labor unions and Dick Gephardt were already emotionally committed to

“fair trade” as a means of saving American jobs. They will now calculate that it is also good politics. Pat Buchanan will be similarly tempted to stress tariffs rather than immi- gration reform in his “America First” package. So the political debate may continue to ignore the potential eco- nomic trade-offs between free trade and immigration— although new research shows they can be dramatic.