And the structure of trade restrictions imposes a disproportionate burden on those least able to pay. Opponents of free trade often claim that foreign competition harms American workers. However, the evidence contradicts this claim. For example, if imports harmed domestic employment, we would expect to see unemployment rise whenever the trade deficit expands. However, an analysis of trade data for the past decade reveals that exactly the opposite appears to be true.
Unemployment appears to fall even as trade deficits increase.
In addition, the cost of saving jobs through protectionism is often extremely high. For example, a 1989 study by the International Trade Commission indicated that trade protection in the glassware industry preserved 2,500 U.S. jobs. However, trade protection actively harms workers because it can cost jobs. First, raising the cost of imports costs jobs in domestic industries that consume foreign goods. For example, protecting domestic sugar producers hampers the export of American candy bars.