President Donald Trump has vowed to rejuvenate American manufacturing by imposing broad tariffs. These measures aim to encourage companies to bring their operations back to the U.S., transforming America into an industrial powerhouse once again. Trump’s rhetoric resonates with many due to the longing for a time when blue-collar workers could achieve middle-class status through factory jobs. In 1950, nearly one in three American workers were in manufacturing, compared to just one in 12 today. However, the president’s push to restore America’s industrial past is a battle against significant long-term economic trends.\n— new from The Economist
