Far more Americans want tariffs to be decreased than increased. Two-thirds of people — including majorities of Democrats and Republicans — say they've paid higher prices as a result of Trump's tariffs. While more Americans would prefer for the Supreme Court to strike down Trump's tariffs than to allow them to stand, a large and growing share expect the Supreme Court to keep the tariffs in place rather than strike them down.
What you need to know about Americans' views on tariffs, as of the January 16 - 19, 2026 Economist / YouGov Poll:
- Only 11% of Americans want tariffs on foreign goods to be increased; 48% would prefer for them to be decreased and 26% want them to be kept the same
- Two-thirds (69%) of Americans say that Trump's tariffs have increased the prices they've paid either a lot (43%) or slightly (25%)
- Majorities of Democrats (88%), Independents (65%), and Republicans (54%) say they've paid higher prices as a result of Trump's tariffs
- Political polarization is much greater on the shares who say Trump's tariffs have increased prices a lot: 71% of Democrats, 43% of Independents, and 18% of Republicans say this
- The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on a challenge to Trump’s authority to impose tariffs. More Americans expect the Supreme Court probably will allow Trump's tariffs to stand than expect it will strike them down (50% vs. 18%)
- Since mid-November, the share who expect the Supreme Court will allow Trump's tariffs to stand has increased 8 points
- More Americans want the Supreme Court to strike down Trump's tariffs than want it to let them stand (50% vs. 31%)
Image: Getty (Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)
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