A recent survey indicates a significant 20% surge in the number of American liberals who advocate for open exports and imports.
A study suggests that support for free trade among left-leaning Americans has more than doubled following Donald Trump’s second term victory in the US presidential election of November.
During his campaign, Trump accused US trade partners of unfair practices and pledged to impose significant tariffs. He acted on this promise on April 2, announcing new “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly 90 countries, with the aim of increasing revenue and creating US jobs.
Global markets reacted negatively, leading the president to temporarily suspend most tariffs for 90 days, reducing them to a 10% baseline. However, these suspensions exclude China, whose exports to the US now face tariffs as high as 145% amidst an ongoing trade dispute.
A poll by Polarization Research Lab, initially reported by the Financial Times and widely shared on social media on Friday, suggests that “American attitudes towards free trade have rapidly polarized” in recent months.
The study indicated that in early 2024, support for unrestricted exports and imports stood at approximately 20% among both liberals and conservatives.
However, the study noted a dramatic increase in the division between these groups on this issue since Trump’s election victory, a divide that began to emerge leading up to the election.
The poll reveals that over 40% of liberals surveyed now express “strongly approve” of free trade.
The Democrats, who generally have liberal support, had previously criticized Trump’s tariff policies as “dangerous” and a “corrupt scheme to enrich administration officials and those loyal to them.”
Conversely, the number of conservatives supporting free trade has slightly decreased, with around 13% still in favor, according to the study.
Online commentators have suggested the poll results indicate that supporters of both Democrats and Republicans tend to align with their party’s stance on issues without deeper consideration.
Financial Times’ chief data reporter, John Burn-Murdoch, commented on X about the survey’s findings, stating, “Negative partisanship is a helluva drug.”
Sean Westwood, director of Polarization Research Lab, countered this view, arguing that “this is not an irrational flip by Liberals in response to Conservatives – Liberals are witnessing a stock market crash and an economic retraction. It could very well be reasoned.”