This article details the significant change in Vice President JD Vance's position on tariffs. From 2016-2019, Vance consistently argued against protectionist trade policies, attributing job losses to automation and technological advancements, not globalization. He openly criticized Trump's trade rhetoric and even liked a tweet from Senator Ben Sasse emphasizing automation's role in job reduction. Vance cited research linking increased exposure to Chinese imports with negative consequences for local labor markets but did not support sweeping trade policy reversals. He advocated for worker retraining as a solution.
However, Vance's perspective evolved significantly. He now champions tariffs and is a key messenger for Trump's economic agenda. His spokesperson attributed this change to witnessing the successes of Trump's policies during his first term. This shift is highlighted by Vance's previous skepticism regarding the revival of traditional industries like coal and steel through trade policy and his past assertion that the battle over trade was essentially over.
The article contrasts Vance's earlier emphasis on automation as the primary driver of job loss with his current support for protectionist measures. While acknowledging the harm caused by globalization, he initially believed reversing course was too late. His more recent stance sees automation arguments as "bad" and reflects a complete embrace of Trump's economic platform.