Epoch Readers’ Poll Shows Strong Support for America’s Trade Reset Under Trump

Many respondents acknowledged potential downsides, especially short-term inflation and higher consumer prices, but have faith in longer-term benefits.

President Donald Trump’s bold new trade strategy is receiving strong support from readers of The Epoch Times.

A new poll of 21,559 readers shows broad approval for the administration’s tariff initiative, with the majority viewing it as a fair and necessary step to protect American industry, bring back manufacturing jobs, and chart a path toward long-term economic independence.

Optimism was especially high that Trump’s trade reset will revive the country’s decimated industrial base and bolster both economic and national security, rebuilding America’s middle class and deterring adversaries.

Despite the upbeat outlook, many respondents acknowledged potential downsides, especially short-term inflation and higher consumer prices. Still, they expressed confidence that the long-term benefits—stronger industry, national resilience, and reduced foreign dependence—would outweigh the immediate costs.

The demographic breakdown of respondents sheds light on the patterns of support seen across the poll.

Sixty-nine percent of participants identified as Republican, 22 percent as Independent, and just 1.5 percent as Democrat. Enthusiasm for Trump’s tariff policies was strongest among Republicans and voters aged 35 and up.

Younger respondents under 35 were more divided and cautious in their views, while female respondents expressed slightly higher levels of support for Trump’s trade policies than their male counterparts.

Support for Tariff Policy: A Fair Trade Reset?

Trump, who once famously branded himself “Tariff Man,” has consistently championed tariffs as a powerful tool to protect American workers from foreign competition, bring manufacturing jobs back home, and close the nation’s massive $1.2 trillion trade gap with the rest of the world.

During his first term, Trump often leveraged tariffs to renegotiate trade deals he viewed as unfavorable to the United States. After winning the election in November 2024 and returning to the White House for a second term, Trump has moved swiftly to reset America’s trade relationships with other countries by wielding tariffs.

On April 2, dubbed “Liberation Day” by the president, Trump declared an economic emergency and unveiled a 10 percent baseline tariff on nearly all imports. For roughly 60 nations deemed the “worst offenders” in the U.S. trade imbalance, Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs roughly aligned with the size of their trade surplus with the United States.

China, which topped the worst offenders list, was hit hardest. After the communist regime chose to retaliate with its own tariffs rather than make deal with the United States, things quickly escalated to the point where the Chinese regime now faces U.S. tariffs at an eye-watering 145 percent.

A key goal of Trump’s tariff policies is to reset global commerce and force foreign governments to negotiate bilateral deals that will correct what the president has characterized as unfair trade ties that put the United States at a disadvantage.

The administration said recently that more than 75 countries have made diplomatic overtures on the tariff front, with 15 submitting explicit trade offers that Trump’s economic advisers are now reviewing.

“China also wants to make a deal, badly, but they don’t know how to get it started,” Trump wrote in a recent social media post. “We are waiting for their call.”

President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 10, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The Epoch Times’ poll showed solid backing for Trump’s trade policy reset.

When asked whether a 10 percent universal tariff is a fair way to protect domestic industries, 52 percent of respondents said they strongly agree, with another 17 percent somewhat agreeing. Only 6 percent somewhat disagreed and 9 percent strongly disagreed. Republican respondents showed the highest level of support, with 56 percent strongly agreeing. By contrast, only 18 percent of Democrats strongly agreed, while 41 percent strongly disagreed. Support was highest among those aged 35 and older.

On the question of higher reciprocal tariffs targeting the worst offending countries, like China and neighboring communist Vietnam, support was even stronger. A full 76 percent of all respondents strongly agreed and 11 percent somewhat agreed. Among Republicans, 80 percent strongly agreed, and 69 percent of Independents shared that view. Only 20 percent of Democrats strongly agreed, with 52 percent strongly opposed.

When asked about Trump’s proposed formula—using the size of the U.S. trade deficit with each country as the basis to determine tariff rates—58 percent of respondents strongly agreed, with an additional 20 percent somewhat agreeing. Support again correlated with age and political affiliation, with Republicans and older adults showing the highest support levels.

Overall, the poll reflects deep concern over America’s trade imbalances with other countries and a strong desire to see assertive action. Respondents see Trump’s tariffs as both fair and necessary, a view supported by numerous write-in responses, which framed the policy not only as an economic strategy but also as a matter of national defense. Many respondents cited growing reliance on foreign adversaries—particularly China—for critical goods such as medicine, microchips, and industrial components.

Manufacturing and Industrial Resilience

The collapse of American manufacturing since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001 has hollowed out communities across the United States. More than 60,000 factories have closed over two decades, eliminating roughly 4.7 million jobs. Trump’s tariffs aim to reverse this erosion of industrial capacity, which he blames for weakening U.S. economic independence and undermining national security.

The president and his advisers say tariffs can give domestic firms more room to grow, invest in equipment, and increase their workforce. Trump recently described his trade policies as a generational opportunity to reorder international trade, reshore industries, and make America more secure and self-reliant.

“Everybody knew you had to do it, but they never had the guts to do it,” Trump said on April 9 outside the White House, adding that the kind of major policy shift that his administration has embarked upon requires courage—both from the country’s leadership and the American people.

Respondents were asked whether tariffs are likely to encourage the return of manufacturing jobs to the United States. Sixty-four percent strongly agreed, while another 20 percent somewhat agreed. Only 6 percent were neutral and 10 percent disagreed to some extent. Among Republicans, 68 percent strongly agreed. Support was also strong among Independents (56 percent) and those aged 35 and older.

On whether the U.S. industrial base is capable of expanding domestic production in response to higher import costs, 49 percent of respondents strongly agreed, and 27 percent somewhat agreed. Just 11 percent disagreed. The 65+ age group expressed the most confidence.

However, when asked whether American-made products would continue to rely heavily on imported parts or raw materials, 14 percent strongly agreed, and 30 percent somewhat agreed. Thirty-six percent were neutral, while 20 percent somewhat or strongly disagreed, indicating significant uncertainty about the degree to which U.S. production can be decoupled from global supply chains.

Matthew Atha, a 54 year old apprentice, does steel work at Ironworkers local 29 during an apprenticeship in Dayton, Ohio, on Oct. 24, 2022. Megan Jelinger/AFP via Getty Images

Overall, the poll shows that optimism about a tariff-driven manufacturing revival is high. However, many also seem convinced that full self-sufficiency remains a distant—or maybe even impossible—goal.

Price Pressures and Household Impact

Tariffs increase the cost of imported products and as import prices rise, domestic firms typically pass at least some of these increased costs on to consumers.

Trump and senior administration officials argue that these inflationary effects will diminish over time as higher tariffs encourage a shift in consumption, with more Americans opting for domestically produced goods. According to the administration, the tariff-driven transition will bolster U.S. manufacturing and eventually reduce costs, with the effort described as short-term pain for long-term gain.

Trump recently urged Americans to “hang tough” through what he described as a necessary adjustment period, calling his sweeping tariff policy an “economic revolution” that would deliver epic results.

“We will win,“ Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. ”Hang tough, it won’t be easy, but the end result will be historic.”

Not all economists agree, however. They point to America’s high labor costs, suggesting that U.S.-made products will continue to be more expensive than foreign-made alternatives for the foreseeable future. In addition, the manufacturing sector itself is vulnerable to inflation, as it depends heavily on imported raw materials, machinery, and components.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that classical economic models estimate each 10 percent tariff tranche could cause a one-time 2 percent rise in consumer prices, though real-world effects may be more modest. For example, Bessent cited a study showing that the 20 percent tariffs imposed on China during Trump’s first term ultimately increased U.S. consumer prices by just 0.7 percent.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks at the American Bankers Association's Washington Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, on April 9, 2025. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

The Yale Budget Lab recently projected that the “Liberation Day” tariffs raised the average effective U.S. tariff rate to 11.5 percent, with an estimated 1.3 percent increase in consumer prices. Factoring in all 2025 tariffs, including those on steel and aluminum and retaliatory tariffs from abroad, the average effective rate reaches 19.8 percent. Yale projects this will lead to a total inflationary impact of 2.31 percent.

Against this backdrop, consumer confidence, which surged after Trump’s re-election, has softened. Uncertainty about the inflationary effects of the tariff program has been cited in several recent downbeat sentiment surveys, while future inflation expectations have climbed. Still, a large portion of readers responding to The Epoch Times’ poll remains supportive of Trump’s tariff policies, even as they acknowledge the possibility of some price pain.

When asked whether tariffs will increase prices on consumer goods such as clothing, electronics, and household items, 18 percent of respondents strongly agreed and 35 percent somewhat agreed. Thirty-two percent were neutral, while 10 percent somewhat disagreed and 5 percent strongly disagreed. Democrats were more likely to agree that tariffs would raise prices, while Republican respondents were more divided or neutral.

Respondents were also asked whether tariffs would noticeably impact their household’s cost of living. Eleven percent strongly agreed, and 20 percent somewhat agreed, while a plurality—40 percent—remained neutral. Nineteen percent somewhat disagreed, and 10 percent strongly disagreed.

When asked whether they were more concerned about their job situation compared with the previous month, only 7 percent strongly agreed, and 4 percent somewhat agreed. Nineteen percent were neutral, while 14 percent somewhat disagreed and 56 percent strongly disagreed. This suggests that despite uncertainty over prices, confidence in employment stability remains strong among readers.

People walk past a Gap store in New York City, on April 11, 2025. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Long-Term Resilience, Debt, and Tax Strategy

Trump has said that his sweeping tariff policies are designed not only to restore balance in international trade but to serve multiple domestic goals, including reducing the U.S. national debt—which is now approaching $37 trillion.

According to Bessent, Trump’s Treasury secretary, revenue from the full slate of the president’s tariffs could eventually total between $300 billion and $600 billion annually. The lower end of Bessent’s estimate aligns with the Tax Policy Center’s projection of $3.3 trillion over the next decade, plus an additional $190 billion for the remainder of 2025.

Trump and his economic team have also proposed using tariff revenues to offset the cost of new tax cuts aimed at low- and middle-income Americans. Among the key proposals are the elimination of taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security income, and the deductibility of interest payments on U.S.-made auto loans. Bessent described the approach as an “affordability solution for the bottom 50 percent of wage earners,” arguing that these targeted tax relief measures would be directly funded by tariff collections.

Respondents to the Epoch Times poll appear to support this vision. When asked whether tariffs will make the U.S. economy more resilient and self-sufficient over time, 73 percent said they strongly agreed and another 13 percent somewhat agreed. Only 7 percent strongly disagreed, and another 3 percent somewhat disagreed. Support was strongest among Republicans (77 percent strongly agree) and those aged 35 and older. Among Democrats, nearly half strongly disagreed.

When asked whether tariffs are a practical way to help reduce the national debt, 51 percent strongly agreed and 24 percent somewhat agreed. Thirteen percent were neutral, while only 5 percent somewhat disagreed and 7 percent strongly disagreed. Once again, Republicans and older respondents were most supportive. Democrats were deeply skeptical, with 56 percent strongly disagreeing.

A screen displaying the US national debt is seen in the Manhattan borough of New York City, on April 11, 2025. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Finally, respondents were asked whether tariffs should remain in place long term and eventually allow for lower tax rates on Americans. Forty-six percent said they strongly agreed, and 23 percent somewhat agreed. Eighteen percent were neutral, while 13 percent disagreed. Among those under age 35, opinions were more divided—45 percent strongly agreed, but 19 percent strongly disagreed. Among Republicans, 49 percent strongly agreed, while just 17 percent of Democrats shared that view.

The results suggest a broad belief among readers—particularly among conservative and older voters—that tariffs can do more than reset global trade. They may also provide the fiscal foundation for lasting tax reform, greater economic independence, and reducing the ballooning national debt.

Sentiment and Stock Market Reaction

Markets often react negatively to tariffs as they can disrupt global trade, drive up prices, and create economic uncertainty.

Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement rattled global markets, triggering a four-day stock selloff, the worst since 2020. However, after the president paused reciprocal tariffs on April 9 to allow time for negotiations, markets surged—with the benchmark S&P 500 posting its biggest single-day point gain in history.

Trump told reporters on April 7 that his decision to launch the tariffs was necessary because the situation with the United States’ trading partners was no longer sustainable. Comparing his tariffs to “medicine,” Trump sympathized with investors nervously watching the stock plunge, but insisted that America would emerge stronger.

Despite market volatility, most respondents in The Epoch Times poll expressed confidence in the long-term benefits of the new tariff strategy. When asked whether the recent stock market upheaval reflected justified concerns about the U.S. tariff plan, only 12 percent strongly agreed and 13 percent somewhat agreed. A plurality—29 percent—somewhat disagreed, and 24 percent strongly disagreed. Another 22 percent were neutral. Democrats were the most likely to view the selloff as justified, while Republicans and older voters largely dismissed the market’s reaction as overblown.

When asked whether the U.S. tariff policy makes them more optimistic about the economy in 2025, 49 percent strongly agreed and 28 percent somewhat agreed. Just 5 percent somewhat disagreed and 8 percent strongly disagreed. Optimism was especially high among Republicans (52 percent strongly agreed) and those aged 65 and older (50 percent strongly agreed). Among Democrats, 68 percent strongly disagreed.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the opening bell in New York City, on April 10, 2025. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

Looking further ahead, respondents were even more optimistic. When asked whether the tariff policy makes them more optimistic about America’s long-term economic outlook, 67 percent strongly agreed and 18 percent somewhat agreed. Only 3 percent somewhat disagreed and 8 percent strongly disagreed. Among Republicans, 72 percent strongly agreed. Support was again highest among older age groups and lowest among Democrats, with 65 percent of Democrats strongly disagreeing.

The responses suggest that while short-term market turbulence may shake Wall Street, many Americans—particularly conservative and older voters—believe the broader economic trajectory is headed in the right direction.

Fairness, Jobs, and Long-Term Vision

The final question of the survey asked respondents whether they believed Trump’s new tariff policy represents a positive change in America’s global trade strategy—and why.

Seventy-three percent of respondents strongly agreed with the view that it’s a positive change, and 14 percent somewhat agreed. Only 10 percent expressed any level of disagreement. Among Republicans, 77 percent strongly agreed, compared to 65 percent of Independents and just 21 percent of Democrats. Younger respondents were more divided, with 53 percent of those under 35 strongly agreeing, compared to 72 percent among those aged 35 to 64 and 73 percent among those aged 65 and older.

In addition to structured responses, the poll invited open-ended commentary. Thousands took the opportunity to share detailed views on the purpose, meaning, and impact of Trump’s new trade policy.

Many respondents emphasized the idea that the United States has been treated unfairly by its trading partners for decades. Phrases like “fair is fair” and “America has been taken advantage of long enough” appeared repeatedly. A number of participants praised Trump’s willingness to confront entrenched global trade structures, describing his actions as “gutsy” and “long overdue.”

Others stressed the importance of restoring domestic manufacturing capacity, citing national security concerns and the decline of middle-class jobs. There was also strong support for using tariffs to “rebalance” or “reset” global commerce, along with the “need to reboot American industry.” This was the sentiment expressed in hundreds of responses, particularly from readers who felt the United States has been subsidizing cheap imports at the expense of its own economy.

Concerns about inflation and short-term instability were acknowledged but frequently minimized. Many respondents argued that the short-term pain was worth the long-term gain, with several respondents describing Trump’s tariffs as economic “chemotherapy” that may be a tough-to-bear but ultimately beneficial remedy.

This aerial view shows shipping containers stacked at the Port of Baltimore in Baltimore, Md., on April 10, 2025. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Taken together, the structured and open-ended responses paint a picture of a public eager for bold economic realignment—one grounded in self-reliance, fairness, and national strength.

Thank you for participating. Feel free to forward this survey to your friends. The results will be featured in an article published on Saturday at theepochtimes.com/survey.

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