New Poll Reveals Voters Approve of Tariffs, But Not on Canada and Mexico
Americans generally have unfavorable views on imposing taxes on goods from the nation's nearest allies.
TroibNews 
A recent poll reveals that more Americans are against President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico than in favor, despite a general division in sentiment towards tariff policy. This survey, conducted by the British firm Public First and shared exclusively with PMG, also highlights that tariffs on the United Kingdom would be largely unpopular.
The polling indicates that U.S. voters express mixed and occasionally conflicting views on tariffs. There are significant partisan differences, with Trump supporters more inclined to trust his decisions. However, how tariffs are implemented appears to influence voters across party lines.
“Americans don’t really know what to expect from tariffs,” said James Frayne, founding partner of Public First. “They’re obviously not an economic tool that’s been used terribly widely in recent times, and therefore you get what look like contradictions in public opinion.”
In a broader sense, Americans are nearly evenly divided on tariffs: 35 percent support their use, while 33 percent oppose them, with a similar number unsure or neutral. This is despite 41 percent of respondents believing tariffs would harm the economy, as opposed to only 33 percent who think they would be beneficial.
The survey also uncovered clear partisan divides; for instance, 61 percent of Trump voters back his tariffs plan, in stark contrast to just 16 percent of voters who support Kamala Harris.
These political differences arise in the context of Trump making tariffs a key promise in his 2024 campaign. Early in his presidency, he discussed imposing tariffs on both allies and rivals, including proposed 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and a 10 percent tariff on goods from China. Earlier this month, Trump postponed his tariff plans for Canada and Mexico after negotiating with their leaders, but stated that import fees on goods from both nations would be implemented by early March.
Specific tariff proposals, however, are not faring well in terms of public support. The Public First poll found only 28 percent of American adults favor tariffs on Canada, while 43 percent oppose them; over half of respondents believe such tariffs could harm U.S.-Canada relations. Opposition to tariffs on Great Britain, another important ally, was even stronger.
Despite these sentiments, there remains substantial support among Trump voters for tariffs targeting Canada and Great Britain. Among those in favor, the most frequently mentioned reason for support was trust in Trump’s judgment, reflecting his own rhetoric about manufacturing benefits.
Support for tariffs on Mexico was slightly lower, with 35 percent in favor and 39 percent opposed.
On the other hand, tariffs on China received more favorable reviews, garnering 45 percent support compared to 30 percent opposition, even as survey participants acknowledged that the U.S. benefits more from trade with China than with any other nation.
These findings suggest that voter attitudes toward tariffs are shaped not only by economic concerns and personal financial implications but also by perceptions regarding the countries involved and their status as allies.
Additionally, the polling revealed marked differences in how Americans view the nation’s key allies and its global role, with divisions evident along both partisan and generational lines. A mere 10 percent of voters agreed with the sentiment that the U.S. "does not need any allies around the world to help maintain its safety and prosperity.” Among younger voters aged 18 to 24, the agreement rose to 18 percent, compared to just 5 percent of those aged 65 and older.
Public First conducted the survey involving 2,045 U.S. adults from February 7-12, yielding a margin of error of 2 percentage points.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
The polling indicates that U.S. voters express mixed and occasionally conflicting views on tariffs. There are significant partisan differences, with Trump supporters more inclined to trust his decisions. However, how tariffs are implemented appears to influence voters across party lines.
“Americans don’t really know what to expect from tariffs,” said James Frayne, founding partner of Public First. “They’re obviously not an economic tool that’s been used terribly widely in recent times, and therefore you get what look like contradictions in public opinion.”
In a broader sense, Americans are nearly evenly divided on tariffs: 35 percent support their use, while 33 percent oppose them, with a similar number unsure or neutral. This is despite 41 percent of respondents believing tariffs would harm the economy, as opposed to only 33 percent who think they would be beneficial.
The survey also uncovered clear partisan divides; for instance, 61 percent of Trump voters back his tariffs plan, in stark contrast to just 16 percent of voters who support Kamala Harris.
These political differences arise in the context of Trump making tariffs a key promise in his 2024 campaign. Early in his presidency, he discussed imposing tariffs on both allies and rivals, including proposed 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and a 10 percent tariff on goods from China. Earlier this month, Trump postponed his tariff plans for Canada and Mexico after negotiating with their leaders, but stated that import fees on goods from both nations would be implemented by early March.
Specific tariff proposals, however, are not faring well in terms of public support. The Public First poll found only 28 percent of American adults favor tariffs on Canada, while 43 percent oppose them; over half of respondents believe such tariffs could harm U.S.-Canada relations. Opposition to tariffs on Great Britain, another important ally, was even stronger.
Despite these sentiments, there remains substantial support among Trump voters for tariffs targeting Canada and Great Britain. Among those in favor, the most frequently mentioned reason for support was trust in Trump’s judgment, reflecting his own rhetoric about manufacturing benefits.
Support for tariffs on Mexico was slightly lower, with 35 percent in favor and 39 percent opposed.
On the other hand, tariffs on China received more favorable reviews, garnering 45 percent support compared to 30 percent opposition, even as survey participants acknowledged that the U.S. benefits more from trade with China than with any other nation.
These findings suggest that voter attitudes toward tariffs are shaped not only by economic concerns and personal financial implications but also by perceptions regarding the countries involved and their status as allies.
Additionally, the polling revealed marked differences in how Americans view the nation’s key allies and its global role, with divisions evident along both partisan and generational lines. A mere 10 percent of voters agreed with the sentiment that the U.S. "does not need any allies around the world to help maintain its safety and prosperity.” Among younger voters aged 18 to 24, the agreement rose to 18 percent, compared to just 5 percent of those aged 65 and older.
Public First conducted the survey involving 2,045 U.S. adults from February 7-12, yielding a margin of error of 2 percentage points.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
