Educational program: Global imports and their role in supporting US jobs

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This educational program is based on a report authored by Georgetown University’s Lab for Globalization and Shared Prosperity and commissioned by the Hinrich Foundation. The report reveals the complexity of globalization's impact on workers, the need to address the US' investment in its human capital, and the myth that trade is toxic to the American economy.

During the session, speakers Brad Jensen and Nita Rudra will guide participants to gain insights into:

1. Protectionist measures by recent administrations:
   - An overview of actions taken by both Republican and Democratic administrations to protect American industries from foreign competition.
   - Examination of national security concerns and efforts aimed at restoring blue-collar jobs.
2. The 'China Shock' revisited:
   - Analysis of the decline in manufacturing employment due to the China Shock and its waning impact in recent years.
   - Evaluation of the growth and subsequent collapse of Chinese imports to the US since 2011 and their minimal effect on aggregate US manufacturing employment.
3. Positive contributions of other developing countries:
   - Insight into how imports from Brazil, India, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam support US manufacturing jobs.
   - Data highlighting that between 2011 and 2019, imports from these economies created or supported nearly half a million US jobs.
4. Reevaluating Protectionist Policies:
   - Discussion on the risks associated with the US maintaining outdated protectionist policies based on past economic shocks like the China Shock.
   - Arguments for redirecting policy focus towards improving the US comparative advantage in services instead of trying to revive long-lost manufacturing jobs.
5. Future Directions for US Policymaking:
   - Recommendations for US policymakers to adapt to emerging economic realities and evolving global trade dynamics.
   - Strategies to foster growth in the services sector and leveraging US strengths in a modern global economy.

This program is developed by the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the USA (AFPC-USA) in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation. The AFPC-USA is solely responsible for the content of this program.

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