President Trump Signals Support of Tariff Exemptions to Help American Companies, Consistent with Voter Sentiment
The imposition of wide-ranging and heavy-handed tariffs that run contrary to Trade Alliance to Promote Prosperity (TAPP) principles notwithstanding, President Trump deserves credit for at least expressing the intention to provide exemptions to U.S. companies so they can compete internationally. This intent is consistent with sentiments expressed by the overwhelming majority of 1,000 American voters recently surveyed by Fabrizio Lee & Associates (the president’s own pollster) on behalf of TAPP.
The president recently stated, “I’ll take a look at [company exclusions] as time goes by. We’re going to take a look at it… There are some that have been hard – there are some that, by the nature of the company, get hit a little bit harder, and we’ll take a look at that.”
Our survey found that while most voters (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. Our survey found, by a more than 3-to-1 margin, respondents agree that U.S. policymakers should provide tariff relief to American companies to keep them from having to downsize when they are being undercut by their Chinese competitors.
The survey responses further indicated that voters believe:
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%.
Ideally, we would have a free-trade environment, and we are pleased to see that President Trump is heeding the will of the American people by signaling that he will protect American companies from the ravages of tariffs by issuing exemptions. We hope such exemptions are a step towards a renewed era of fair and free trade.