US shooting itself in foot with Trump’s ‘America First’ tariffs

A recent CNN poll offers a sobering reflection of American public sentiment. According to the survey, 59 percent of citizens now believe that Donald Trump’s economic policies have worsened conditions in the US.

Even more telling is the overwhelming disapproval of his aggressive tariff agenda, which is increasingly viewed as a self-inflicted economic wound.

While Trump once promised to slash costs and reignite American prosperity, the lived experiences of millions suggest otherwise. Nearly six in 10 Americans say the cost of living has risen under his leadership.

From industrial Pennsylvania to rural Georgia, stories of job losses, thinning paycheques, and dwindling retirement savings abound. The promise of economic nationalism has, in practice, devolved into economic self-harm.

This discontent is not confined to Democrats.

Among Republican voters, only 63 percent believe Trump’s policies have improved the economy, down from previous highs, and a mere 23 percent think he has succeeded in reducing living costs. These are signals of a public increasingly aware that tariffs are hurting rather than helping.

The Trump administration’s protectionist turn is rooted in an outdated economic playbook. Tariffs, essentially taxes on imports, are a blunt instrument in today’s globalised world. Modern supply chains are deeply interconnected. When the US slaps tariffs on Chinese steel or Canadian lumber, it is its businesses and consumers who foot the bill.

Take, for example, a small entrepreneur in Massachusetts who designs board games. He recently told The New York Times he can no longer afford to produce or import his products without incurring severe losses. Instead of scaling up and hiring, he’s now cutting back, his business plan upended by erratic tariff policy. Such cases are not isolated.

According to the US Chamber of Commerce, Trump’s tariffs have cost US businesses over $130 billion since 2018. Sectors ranging from agriculture to manufacturing have borne the brunt, with retaliatory measures from trading partners exacerbating the damage. China, the EU, and others have not hesitated to respond in kind.

Trump’s unpredictable approach, where policy changes are often telegraphed via tweet rather than formal process, has created a climate of uncertainty.

In a world defined by interdependence, no nation can tariff its way to prosperity. The US, by choosing isolation over cooperation and unilateralism over consensus, is not protecting its future, it is sabotaging it.

Nearly 58 percent of Americans say they believe Trump lacks a clear strategy on tariffs. Business leaders, already grappling with inflation and labour shortages, now face a volatile regulatory environment that stifles long-term planning.

A Michigan-based manufacturer put it succinctly: “How can I invest for the future when the rules change every other day?” That sentiment is echoed across boardrooms and factory floors alike.

The broader consequences extend beyond US borders. By retreating from multilateral institutions like the World Trade Organization and strong-arming allies into bilateral concessions, Washington is damaging its reputation as a reliable trade partner.

This has catalysed the formation of alternative alliances such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in Asia, that are moving ahead without American participation.

Ironically, the very workforce Trump claims to defend is rejecting his economic vision. A Pew Research survey found that 73 percent of Americans would prefer an office job to a manufacturing one, even at equal pay. The nostalgia for a bygone industrial era simply does not resonate with younger generations seeking knowledge-based careers.

And then there is the looming threat of recession. According to a recent survey by the University of Michigan, 71 percent of respondents described the US economy as “poor,” with a majority expecting a downturn within the next year. That level of pessimism reflects not just economic hardship, but deep anxiety about the nation’s direction.

Ultimately, if economic policy is judged by its ability to improve lives, then the Trump administration’s tariff strategy has fallen short. It has raised prices, deterred investment, and isolated the US on the world stage. Far from restoring American greatness, it is accelerating economic decline.

The writer is a lecturer at USIU and a PhD student in International Relations