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A recent NBC News poll reveals that many voters are hesitant to support candidates advocating for universal tariffs, a key proposal of former President Donald Trump’s campaign. According to the survey, 44% of voters would be less inclined to back a candidate endorsing tariffs up to 20% on all imports. Conversely, 35% indicated they would favor such a candidate, while 19% remained indifferent.
This poll, conducted with 1,000 registered voters between October 4 and 8, carries a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points. Despite the lack of enthusiasm for universal tariffs, Trump remains a steadfast proponent. During an interview with Bloomberg’s John Micklethwait at the Economic Club of Chicago, Trump reiterated his belief that higher tariffs would incentivize companies to relocate operations to the U.S., thus avoiding the tariffs.
The former president’s tariff plan includes a blanket 20% on all imports, with a significant 60% rate specifically targeting Chinese goods. Trump argues that this strategy aims to bolster domestic manufacturing and job creation while generating revenue from foreign imports to fund other initiatives.
However, many economists criticize this approach, highlighting that it burdens U.S. importers, who often pass these costs onto consumers. They warn that such widespread tariffs could exacerbate inflation, which has only recently started to decline.
Trump’s tariff policy has also drawn criticism from within his own party. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed his disapproval in September, noting that tariffs tend to increase prices for American consumers.
In contrast, the Biden-Harris administration has maintained some of Trump’s initial tariffs but emphasizes a more targeted strategy, especially concerning China. In May, President Joe Biden heightened tariffs on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen explained in an MSNBC interview that their approach involves carefully selected tariffs in strategic sectors to promote domestic growth, differing from Trump’s broad measures.
Economists have largely agreed that sweeping tariffs could potentially hinder economic progress, underscoring the complexities of balancing trade policies with economic stability.
Associated media – Related media
