A major problem with protectionism is retention obsolete technology since the producer does not have to keep up with the advancements of international competition.
Tariffs were huge political plums enriching some, bankruptcy for others.
Right — the producers don’t have to update because the government protects them with artificial favors.
(This is called rent-seeking.)
Because of they — and the country — fall behind, losing sales and production to others. Lost sales and production mean lower purchasing power, a lower standard of living, and fewer jobs.
You’e not going to get the GDP up by protecting obsolete technologies and means of production.
You have it backwards. Keeping factories in the USA with ostensibly “expensive” labor hastens automation. Off shoring so an army of gooks make product manually does not.
Fixed.