Some insist these sweeping pacts help the overall economy, leading to more affordable goods and raising the standard of living for Americans. But others argue they displace workers and lead to lower wages. We examine this debate, including how it's playing out in the presidential campaign, and the role trade plays in New Hampshire's economy.
This program was part of an NPR initiative called A Nation Engaged.
GUESTS:
- Glenn Brackett, president of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO.
- Jeff Feingold, editor of the New Hampshire Business Review.
- Matthew Slaughter, Dean of the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth.
We'll also hear from Danielle Kurzleben, digital political reporter for NPR.
Read a summary of the hour-long conversation here: It seems like a simple question: Overall, have free-trade agreements (like NAFTA) been good news or bad news for the Granite State? The answer, according to the experts and others who weighed in during The Exchange, isn’t so straightforward.
What else to read:
- NPR: Trade Matters In 2016; This May Help You Understand Why: In this presidential election cycle, many Americans are casting votes based on their feelings about past trade deals, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, and proposed deals, especially the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
- NPR: Why Candidates Are Out Of Sync With How Americans Really Feel About Trade: Lots of people feel a little better when they save money on cheap imports. But those who lose their jobs feel a lot worse. New research suggests communities hard hit by trade — like Massena — take a lot longer to recover than forecasters used to think.
- NPR: China Killed 1 Million U.S. Jobs, But Don't Blame Trade Deals
