New TAPP/Fabrizio Poll: Voters Support Tariff Relief to Help U.S. Companies against Foreign Competitors Masquerading as American
Data Supports Policymakers Creating & Enforcing Clear Protocols
The Trade Alliance to Promote Prosperity (TAPP) today released a national survey of 1,000 registered voters conducted for the organization from February 12-16, 2025, by Fabrizio Lee & Associates. The numbers indicate that survey respondents prefer to patronize American companies over Chinese firms, don’t appreciate when Chinese companies buy up famous American brands, and want President Trump and the U.S. Congress to provide tariff relief as appropriate to help American companies struggling to thrive and grow in the U.S. in light of unfair competition from Chinese firms.
“While voters overwhelmingly (71% to 18%) believe consumers bear the cost of tariffs, there is consensus that American companies need to be prioritized over foreign companies, especially over Chinese companies, and voters will back actions to level the playing field to help American companies,” said Kent Kaiser, Ph.D., executive director of TAPP. “Our survey found, by a more than 3 to 1 margin, respondents agree that U.S. policymakers should provide tariff relief to American companies that are being undercut by their Chinese competitors to keep them from having to downsize.”
Among the survey’s other findings:
Survey respondents said that when it comes to purchasing, they tend to pick the company with the best price (49% to 42%). While price wins, preference still matters. By more than 2:1 ratio (56% to 24%), respondents would rather purchase a more expensive product from an American company over a less expensive product from a Chinese company.
“Fake it until you make it” doesn’t sit well with voters. Americans reject companies that masquerade as American. Americans tend to hold favorable views toward companies with legacy American brand names, but their perception plummets when it is revealed that those companies are Chinese.
For example, nearly 6 in 10 voters (59%) initially believed Milwaukee Tool is American and held a high opinion of the company (41% favorable), but upon learning the company has a Chinese owner, the company’s net favorability rating tanked (to negative 1% favorability).
The majority of American voters (69%) agree that policymakers need to protect American companies against Chinese competitors. The survey responses indicated:
Tariffs on imports from China must not cost American companies more than Chinese ones, 71% agree to 16% disagree.
It’s only fair that if Chinese companies don’t pay tariffs on certain products, American companies shouldn’t have to, either, 71% to 17%.
The U.S. government should help American companies compete against Chinese companies within the U.S. market: 72% to 19%.
President Trump and Congress should provide tariff relief to American companies being undercut by Chinese companies to avoid downsizing or closing: 68% to 20%.
Tony Fabrizio of Fabrizio Lee & Associates noted, “There is positive net impact for a U.S. Representative or Senator who takes steps to ensure tariffs don’t disadvantage U.S. companies against Chinese companies. And it’s a winner for President Trump, too, with about 7 in 10 voters agreeing that the President should provide tariff relief to American companies that are being undercut by their Chinese competitor, especially if it helps to prevent layoffs and closures.”
“Ideally, we would have a free-trade environment, but American companies also need to be able to operate in a fair-trade environment,” said Kaiser. “That’s why we are calling on Congress and the Administration to establish clear protocols and then hold our global trading partners accountable and help our domestic companies to thrive even when the environment is unfair.”