ITUC expresses concern as Trump's tariff will cost jobs

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) expressed concern over US trade measures saying the new tariffs that would mark the beginning of a trade war will cost jobs, drive up prices and have devastating consequences for workers and consumers worldwide.

Terming the Trump administration's trade measures 'reckless', the ITUC in a statement issued on April 03 said that international trade should advance social justice, support equitable economic development and create decent jobs with labour rights and living wages in countries around the world.

The ITUC-world's largest trade union federation-- represents 191 million members of 337 affiliates in 167 countries and territories.

The global trade union federation said it has long pointed out that insufficiently regulated free trade and corporate profiteering have led to a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions.

"However, the US government's use of tariffs as an aggressive political tool promotes national competition over international solidarity and threatens serious harm to workers in the US and worldwide," it said.

"The announced tariff package will act as yet another regressive tax on working people, raising prices and putting jobs at risk by driving up production costs, and will prevent other countries from developing their economies in a more just way," it said, adding that this makes the case even stronger for a robust multilateral trading system that supports shared prosperity and workers' rights.

"These tariffs are not part of any serious plan to support working people. The Trump Administration has launched a trade war that will put workers' jobs and livelihoods at stake. It will also lead to price increases, for which workers and consumers will bear the costs."

In the statement, ITUC general secretary Luc Triangle said: "With his attacks on workers-from breaking unions to cutting public services and laying off tens of thousands of unionised workers in the US - Donald Trump has shown that his intention is not to create more jobs, but rather advance a billionaire extreme-right agenda."

The ITUC will continue to closely monitor the impact of ensuing trade measures and will continue to promote a worker-centered trade model based on the principle of international solidarity, the statement added.

Munni_fe@yahoo.com