US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted that American workers will not see the return of jobs lost in the manufacturing sector as a result of the tariff strategy that imposes duties on most imports.
In a television interview, Howard promised that "trillions" of dollars would flow into the United States in the form of new investments in the manufacturing sector.
Asked whether factories would be "automated," he said yes, noting that building factories takes a long time and that it would not contribute to lower consumer prices for Americans in the short term.
Lutnick acknowledged that factories would be automated, but promised that American workers would build and operate them in the coming months and years.
Lutnick continued that automating iPhone assembly is one potential benefit of the president's plan, saying that an army of millions currently working in Apple's overseas factories will no longer be part of the process.
He noted that the United States will see an increase in medium-sized trade jobs, such as those for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians, as well as mechanics and others, as part of this projected growth in the American manufacturing sector.
Lutnick, like other Trump administration officials, has portrayed the development of the US manufacturing sector as a national security issue, viewing tariffs as a way to encourage private companies to invest in the country.
However, critics have pointed to several factors that make this strategy difficult to believe, most notably the president's continued vacillation over tariff decisions in recent months.
Even as administration officials appeared in interviews this week, no one was able to confirm whether the announced tariffs would be temporary or permanent, or whether foreign leaders could reach an agreement with the United States to reduce trade barriers. While President Donald Trump has asserted that these barriers will be permanent, several of his cabinet members have hinted at the possibility of reaching agreements that could reduce them.