Controlling What You Can is our new series dedicated to asking YOU what matters most on the major policy topics that face the nation. This post is a recap of a poll we put out on 4/25/2025. If you want to join the conversation, keep an eye on your inbox and check us out on X – we ask a new question every week. Want to join the conversation? Sign up here and follow us on X.
We asked you all two big questions about our trade policy. The first was a general overview question of “are current U.S. trade policies helping or hurting you?”
You were staunchly of the opinion that the current trade policies put in place by this administration are bad for everyday Americans (by the way, if you want to add your thoughts to this slider, or leave a comment on the page, you can do so here).
After that, we dug into more detail – we asked you “we want to know how you feel about the balance of trade globally, not just tariffs specifically. The U.S. is better with…”
In our most one sided set of opinions yet, Forwardists overwhelmingly said that the current U.S. trade policies are hurting their financial situation, with only 6% of our supporters claiming to be helped by the current stances of the administration.
When we dove into the details, 83% of you wanted fully free or mostly free trade, while only 17% of you thought that restrictive repatriation tactics were the way to go.
You all sounded off in the comment sections on X and our website and two core themes came to the forefront:
Tariffs Hurt The American Consumer And Crush Main Street
- The tariff program in place currently is creating undue burden on most of your lives. You noted that prices have gone up and with it, your cost of living.
- You called for the openness of trade once more, claiming that open markets lead to more wealth for all – though many of you noted that this system is ripe for exploitation.
While These Tariffs Are Being Applied Poorly, A Smart Tariff Policy Can Work
- Blanket tariffs without thought for why or how have hurt the American consumer – on that you all seem to agree. But many of you point out that there can be good uses for Tariffs. They can be used to protect delicate and crucial American industries, or to play hardball with foreign powers that utilize inhumane working conditions or dishonest market practices to stake out their claim in the world market.