Click to enlarge.
Concerns around affordability are making trade an important factor in this year’s midterms, according to the results of a new CFR-Morning Consult poll released this week. [So the conventional wisdom is true. This is Real News instead of Fake MAGA news – AutoCrat]*
“Americans usually list the economy as a top issue in the midterms,” Alison Smith told the Daily Brief from the Council on Foreign Relations. “But this time, polling data shows Americans are directly linking affordability concerns to trade policy,” said Smith, deputy director of CFR’s Greenberg Center for Geoeconomics.
Executive Summary of CFR Poll
- “The results are clear about affordability concerns across party lines: 75% of Americans are concerned about the price of food and groceries, and 83% of people who voiced these concerns said tariffs had raised prices.
- “Notably, Americans were split about who they believed bore the burden of tariffs: 41% said they’re a tax citizens pay, and 40% said foreigners pay. It’s a question CFR’s Benn Steil addressed in an article last year, projecting at the time that U.S. consumers would pay roughly two-thirds of Trump’s tariff costs.
- “Likewise, Smith said, “despite a majority of Americans saying Canada, Japan, the European Union (EU), and Mexico are fair trading partners, they are divided on what the next president should do with Trump’s tariffs.”
- “More than half of the respondents said that at least some tariffs should remain in place for Canada, the EU, Japan, and Mexico.
- In regard to China—as seen with other topics—opinions varied by political party, but 43% of all respondents said that tariffs on China were too high. And 42% said they were not okay with the United States importing goods essential to national security from China, though “Americans define national security in different ways,” Smith said.
Conclusion
“Whatever happens in November, public views of U.S. commercial engagement with the world will play a role in the outcome. Americans’ frustrations over the costs tariffs are imposing on businesses and consumers will likely mean some electoral losses for those they deem responsible. Nonetheless, Americans are split on fundamental issues, including who pays tariffs and what the next president should do with Trump’s tariffs. Those and other questions will not be resolved in the midterms and will continue to play out in the years to come,” said Alison Smith. (The author would like to thank Morning Consult for their support in designing and fielding this survey, and Bruce Stokes for his invaluable feedback and input. All errors remain my own.)
*AutoInformed on
About the CFR Poling
As Americans head to the polls in November, affordability concerns weigh heavily on their minds and will likely inform their ballot choices. The Trump administration’s high tariffs, trade war with Canada, and increased barriers to commerce in the name of national security all affect issues Americans care about and by extension will play a role in the outcome of the midterms. The pending question is whether frustrations with President Donald Trump’s trade policy and tariffs will result in widespread losses for Republicans in the midterms and what this means for the future of trade policy.
The Council on Foreign Relations’ Greenberg Center for Geoeconomics initially conducted a nationwide survey at the beginning of 2026 to better understand Americans’ views on trade and tariffs. Results from January showed that Americans generally see trade as benefiting all, but political partisanship often shapes their views. The second wave of polling, conducted in August, similarly showed that party identification influences views on trade, but not always. Six themes capture the broad findings from the August data.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Americans Directly Link Affordability Concerns to Trade Policy
Click to enlarge.
Concerns around affordability are making trade an important factor in this year’s midterms, according to the results of a new CFR-Morning Consult poll released this week. [So the conventional wisdom is true. This is Real News instead of Fake MAGA news – AutoCrat]*
“Americans usually list the economy as a top issue in the midterms,” Alison Smith told the Daily Brief from the Council on Foreign Relations. “But this time, polling data shows Americans are directly linking affordability concerns to trade policy,” said Smith, deputy director of CFR’s Greenberg Center for Geoeconomics.
Executive Summary of CFR Poll
Conclusion
“Whatever happens in November, public views of U.S. commercial engagement with the world will play a role in the outcome. Americans’ frustrations over the costs tariffs are imposing on businesses and consumers will likely mean some electoral losses for those they deem responsible. Nonetheless, Americans are split on fundamental issues, including who pays tariffs and what the next president should do with Trump’s tariffs. Those and other questions will not be resolved in the midterms and will continue to play out in the years to come,” said Alison Smith. (The author would like to thank Morning Consult for their support in designing and fielding this survey, and Bruce Stokes for his invaluable feedback and input. All errors remain my own.)
*AutoInformed on
About the CFR Poling
As Americans head to the polls in November, affordability concerns weigh heavily on their minds and will likely inform their ballot choices. The Trump administration’s high tariffs, trade war with Canada, and increased barriers to commerce in the name of national security all affect issues Americans care about and by extension will play a role in the outcome of the midterms. The pending question is whether frustrations with President Donald Trump’s trade policy and tariffs will result in widespread losses for Republicans in the midterms and what this means for the future of trade policy.
The Council on Foreign Relations’ Greenberg Center for Geoeconomics initially conducted a nationwide survey at the beginning of 2026 to better understand Americans’ views on trade and tariffs. Results from January showed that Americans generally see trade as benefiting all, but political partisanship often shapes their views. The second wave of polling, conducted in August, similarly showed that party identification influences views on trade, but not always. Six themes capture the broad findings from the August data.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.