Overview

• A June Politico-Public First survey found that between a quarter and half of Trump voters feel uncertain about various aspects of his tariff policies
• Only half believe tariffs on Chinese imports will benefit US companies and opinions diverge on cost trade-offs as 46% back duties despite higher prices, 32% support them only if costs stay flat and 9% oppose them
• Roughly one in four voters say the levies damage the US’s ability to secure trade deals with other countries
• His supporters are nearly evenly divided over whether he should need Congress’s approval to impose new tariffs, with 45% favoring unilateral authority and 44% backing legislative consent
• Trump has signaled plans to impose 30% duties on Mexican and EU goods starting August 1 even as a slim majority of his base remains optimistic he can strike a deal with China