Americans fear China tariffs will hurt the U.S.

Tariffs on Chinese goods worry many Americans, according to a recent survey.

Nearly half of the 3,600 adults questioned in the survey said higher duties on imports from China would hurt the nation and their wallets. 44% of Republicans called the levies good for the country, but 80% of Democrats said they would do harm.

“Regardless of what they think about the trade relationship, they’re divided about whether tariffs will be good for the country,” said Christine Huang, the report’s lead author.

Seventy-seven percent hold an unfavorable opinion of China, and three‑quarters express little or no confidence in President Xi Jinping’s handling of world affairs.

Thirty-three percent label China an enemy, while 42% rank it as the top threat to the United States. At the same time, 73% say Beijing’s global influence is rising.

The tariff hikes, announced in early April, pushed duties on electric vehicles, batteries, and solar cells past 100%. This prompted China to announce retaliatory measures that could target American farm goods and tech firms.

Americans judge their country as stronger overall. Only 38% describe China as the leading economic power, and just 14% place it ahead of the United States militarily. At the same time, two‑thirds believe tension across the Taiwan Strait matters for U.S. interests, on par with the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

The survey’s findings mark the first significant easing of anti‑China sentiment in five years. Negative views peaked in 2024. This softer edge appears on both sides. Republicans remain the most critical but are now less likely to call China more powerful than the United States, while some Democrats increasingly cite Russia as America’s main competitor.

Forty-seven percent say commerce favors China, while the remainder deem it balanced or are unsure.

Worries about recent tariffs have grown

Back in 2021, more Americans said tariffs would leave them untouched; today, many of them are hurt by the increased rates.

The survey’s domestic political layer runs through almost every question. 86% of Republicans lack confidence in Xi, compared with 78% of Democrats. 44% of GOP respondents welcome tariffs; barely one in five Democrats agree.

The survey interviewed U.S. adults online from March 18 to 24, before Beijing answered Washington’s latest measures. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.1% points.

Recently, Trump has been urging nations to propose negotiations. He met with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House on Thursday, after hosting a Japanese delegation on Wednesday.

As the world’s two biggest economies swap tariffs, the American public remains wary of China’s retaliation and Washington’s chosen response.

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