Note that the arguments presented here are very brief and can only be illustrative. They do not purport to be complete summaries of positions taken by any interested parties. Labor is concerned about the loss of jobs to imports, especially where the exporters engage in unfair labor practices. Labor Arguments Free Trade or WTO Arguments Increased imports are bound to reduce US production and employment. Yes, employment in import industries is likely to go down.
Employment also goes up in export industries.
Workers who lose their jobs because of imports commonly do not have the skills or live in the right place to move to export or other growing industries where the new jobs are. This is true. It is sound economics for government to pay for retraining and contribute to the cost of relocation. The WTO permits unfair labor practices. It allows countries to restrict imports of goods made with prison labor, but not goods made with child or slave labor.