Americans and the Tariff Debate

President Trump named Wednesday, April 2, 2025 “Liberation Day” for American trade, marking the roll out of reciprocal tariffs.  As new tariffs take effect and negotiations with major trade partners — including Mexico, Canada, China, Europe, and Japan — continue to dominate headlines, More in Common wanted to better understand how Americans were perceiving these policies as well as their potential economic and political implications.

From February 21 to 27, 2025, More in Common surveyed 2,647 American adults to explore whether Americans support or oppose President Trump’s tariff policies — and the underlying economic anxieties and grievances that shape their views. We also surveyed our “Americans in Conversation” panel from February 18 to 23, asking 200 participants about their economic situation and views on tariffs.

Key Takeaways

1. Americans are more likely to think tariffs bring more harm than benefits to the U.S. economy. 

• Almost half of Americans (44%), including a majority (68%) of Democrats and a plurality (47%) of Independents, think tariffs bring more harm than benefits to the U.S. economy. Only 21% of Americans think that tariffs will bring more benefits than harm. 
• Republicans are divided on tariffs: A plurality (43%) thinks tariffs bring more benefits than harm, whereas almost 3 in 10 believe tariffs will be equally harmful and beneficial to the U.S. economy (27%).  

• Among the Republicans who support tariffs, some expect increasing prices and economic hardship in the short term, and believe that trade policy needs to be executed well in conjunction with other economic policies. Many hope President Trump’s trade policy will create more jobs for America in the long run.

“I think tariffs help increase revenues for the government, which we need. Also, it entices companies to manufacture goods here, thus increasing the number of well-paying jobs. Other countries have high taxes on our goods, why shouldn’t we reciprocate? The only negative would be slightly higher prices, but everybody would have better jobs and pay.” 

– Dorian, 59-year-old white man, Moderate, Republican from Ohio 

“In the immediate it causes some economic hardship, but in the long term it can benefit American jobs, and depending on what tariffs are being leveraged for, it can improve the economy.”  

– Amanda, 40-year-old white woman, Moderate, Republican from Pennsylvania

“If the tariffs are long-term without US innovation, they may harm the economy by making everyday items more expensive and limiting new business ventures. However, if we increase innovation and decrease regulation, we will be able to replace the everyday manufacturing (outside the US) with those inside.”

– Adam, 41-year-old Black man, Traditional Conservative, Republican from Massachusetts

2. Most Americans across party lines say the prices of everyday goods, such as grocery and gas, are their top economic concerns. 

• 62% of Americans, including 57% of Democrats and 65% of Republicans, cite “the prices of everyday goods (e.g. groceries, gas)” as a top concern, more than double the amount of people concerned with any other economic issue.
• A majority of Americans (56%), including majorities across all parties, say they wish politicians were doing more to decrease the price of eggs.

• While Americans generally are less concerned about tariffs and trade policies than prices of everyday goods, many cite concerns related to tariffs’ impacts on rising prices.

“The 25% tariff cost premium result will be passed down to the American consumer.”

– Randy, 68-year-old white man, Disengaged, Republican from Pennsylvania 

“Prices are already too high.  [Tariffs] will make them even higher.”

– Dillon, 53-year-old Hispanic man, Moderate, Republican from Delaware

“Our prices are already sky-high and now they are going to go higher?  Why don’t they look at the very few shipping companies who control our imports and how they have raised prices?”

– Sophia, 53-year-old white woman, Traditional Liberal, Democrat from Nebraska  

3. There is a sense of cynicism about whether political leaders care about the economic interests of the American people. 

• 62% of Americans, including 64% of Democrats and Independents, and 61% of Republicans agree with the statement “when it comes to economic issues, politicians from both parties are more focused on their own interests than on those of people like me.”

4. But perceptions of whether the Trump administration will serve the interests of the public vary significantly by party. 

• 78% of Republicans believe that when it comes to economic policies, the Trump administration will work in favor of the interests of people like them.  
• In stark contrast, only 13% of Democrats and 29% of Independents feel the same way. 78% of Democrats and 51% of Independents think the Trump administration will work against their interests.