Tariffs might preserve some American jobs for a while, but it's small consolation if the prices of goods skyrocket out of the typical worker's grasp. A world of free trade is a world of constant change. As businesses around the world compete to provide products to consumers around the world, some people will be driven out of business. We mustn't forget this, and we must do what we can to help people to adapt to this ever-changing economy. But we can't stop change, and we ought not.
Progress is impossible without it.
The choice is clear. We must put the interests of every American consumer first, and favor a free trade policy. The only things governments should try to regulate are public goods where individuals have no incentive to behave in a socially optimal manner. I think trade will be mentioned in a jingoistic manner in the upcoming election, but will not emerge as an important issue. We need to become more competitive in the long term, but in the short term we need to stop the bleeding by whatever means are feasible.