Tariffs’ Messy Reality: The Cost-of-Living Election | Part 1: Ohio
5/3/202622 min
On the campaign trail and from the Oval Office, President Trump billed tariffs as a means to reclaim America’s historic role as a manufacturing powerhouse. But more than a year since his imposition of significant import taxes, the benefits are uncertain. Manufacturing jobs in the U.S. have fallen by about 100,000, or roughly 0.6%, since the start of Trump’s second term. For our special What’s News series The Cost-of-Living Election, WSJ national politics reporter Sabrina Siddiqui met union workers, manufacturing executives and everyday voters in and around Cleveland, Ohio, to uncover what tariffs mean for the economy and the state’s upcoming primary elections. She then explores the potency of tariffs as a political issue with reporters Aaron Zitner and Gavin Bade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sabrina Siddiqui· Host0:29
When you ask Katrina McAvoy if she blames her job loss on tariffs, she has just one answer.
Katrina McAvoy· Guest0:35
I don't see how you cannot when they're saying it's easier for them to make money eating the cost of the tariffs than to, to keep people employed.
Sabrina Siddiqui· Host0:43
We're sitting just outside the doors of a factory owned by her employer, for now, Conn-Selmer. They make brass instruments like trumpets and trombones in Eastlake, Ohio, a 20-minute drive from Cleveland. Katrina's wearing a Conn-Selmer T-shirt under a red cardigan, but the shirt isn't especially important to her.
Katrina McAvoy· Guest1:01
Nope, I have several in the closet, and then I guess they just, uh, get donated once we close. I don't know. I don't wanna put it back on.
Sabrina Siddiqui· Host1:09
At the end of June, Conn-Selmer says all 150 employees at the plant will be terminated. It's moving much of operation offshore to China. Katrina and her colleagues got their notices the same day I spoke with her.
Katrina McAvoy· Guest1:22
In fact, my uncle, who is getting close to 80, this was one of his first jobs.
Sabrina Siddiqui· Host1:26
How did you feel about the president's tariffs before the closure