Workers Who Lost Jobs to Trade Needed Help. Washington Cut the Funding.

The American backlash to trade is in large part the story of a broken political promise. For decades, policymakers have grasped that public support for trade was fragile. The benefits were obvious — economic growth, export opportunities for American companies and lower-priced goods for consumers. But workers in factories were certain to lose their jobs when they were pitted against overseas competitors. This was especially true as trade expanded with lower-wage countries like Mexico and China. Among labor economists, trade unions, businesses and Democratic and Republican politicians, a consensus took shape that a form of insurance was required to cushion…