- Nearly two-thirds (64%) disapprove of Trump’s tariff management amid inflation worries
- 70% predict consumer price increases despite 59% anticipating manufacturing job growth
- 47% of Republicans and 75% of independents foresee negative inflation impacts
- Midwest agricultural exports drop 22% amid retaliatory Chinese trade measures
As trade tensions escalate, new data reveals deep public skepticism about protectionist policies. The ABC News/Washington Post survey conducted in April 2025 demonstrates how economic anxieties override political allegiances, with 30% of conservatives and 48% of non-college educated white men criticizing the approach. Analysts attribute this to tangible supply chain disruptions – electronics retailers report 14-18 week delays for tariff-affected components.
While the administration highlights 83,000 new factory positions in Q1 2025, economists note automation accounts for 61% of these roles. A Wisconsin tooling plant case study shows only 29 human workers alongside 57 robotic units. This trend complicates Trump's Made in Americanarrative as productivity gains fail to translate to broad wage growth.
Regional impacts vary starkly. Iowa soybean farmers report a 22% export decline since China imposed reciprocal tariffs, while Alabama auto plants see temporary gains from reshored parts production. We're caught in a tug-of-war,says Des Moines Agricultural Co-op director Mara Vinson. Short-term factory hires don't offset years of lost trade relationships.
Historical comparisons reveal parallels to 2002 Bush steel tariffs, which the International Trade Commission found cost 200,000 manufacturing jobs. Current models predict similar risks – the Peterson Institute estimates 340,000 net job losses by 2026 if tariffs expand. However, strategic stockpiling by companies like Best Buy and Home Depot has temporarily muted consumer price effects, delaying full economic consequences.
Partisan divides remain pronounced, with 96% Democratic disapproval versus 25% Republican dissent. Yet crossover concerns emerge: 33% of small business owners in Trump-friendly Texas report canceled international orders, while Arizona semiconductor firms face 37% higher raw material costs. As Fed inflation projections hit 5.2% for Q3 2025, analysts warn tariff policies could prolong stagflation risks.