They cause the prices of imported goods to rise, which hurts consumers of those goods; but those higher prices for imported goods provide a benefit to domestic producers of those goods.

I recall that argument being made decades ago on TMF. The 'working-man voter side argued that Walmart selling cheap imported products and 5 gallon jars of pickles "made things more affordable for the working man and only an elite would think thats ain't good."

Now they're spouting 'MAGA/America First/buy American.

You can have the cheapest or you can have it made in america for a higher price. You can export the industrial pollution or you can inflict it on our local air/water/land. OR you can have a powerful EPA work hard to make sure it's done cleanly and safely.

Isn't this populist whiplash precisely why it should not be a political decision?

I acknowledge that it's certainly something that is to be resolved through political institutions, not left up to the experts."

same comment: Isn't this populist whiplash precisely why it should not be a political decision?