Poll indicates US liberals altering attitudes on free trade
(MENAFN) Support for free trade among American liberals has significantly increased since Donald Trump’s second-term election victory in November, a new study suggests. During his campaign, Trump accused America’s trade partners of taking advantage of the US and promised to impose severe tariffs. On April 2, he followed through on his threats, announcing “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly 90 countries, claiming it would raise revenue and create jobs in the US. However, after a sharp decline in global markets, Trump temporarily suspended most of the tariffs for 90 days, reducing them to a 10% baseline. The pause, however, doesn’t apply to China, which faces tariffs of up to 145% in the midst of a trade conflict.
A poll from Polarization Research Lab, shared widely on social media and published by the Financial Times, reveals a sharp polarization of American views on free trade in recent months. In early 2024, both liberals and conservatives had around 20% support for unrestricted exports and imports, but the gap has widened significantly since Trump’s victory.
The survey shows that over 40% of liberals now strongly support free trade, a stark contrast to their earlier stance. Previously, Democrats had criticized Trump’s tariff policies, calling them dangerous and corrupt. Meanwhile, support for free trade among conservatives has declined, though not as dramatically, with around 13% still in favor.
Some online commentators speculated that the survey results reflect partisan loyalties rather than informed opinions. Financial Times chief data reporter John Burn-Murdoch pointed out that "negative partisanship" may be influencing the findings. However, Sean Westwood, the director of the Polarization Research Lab, disagreed, arguing that the shift is a rational response to economic challenges, such as stock market drops and a slowing economy, rather than a partisan reaction.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
