WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, a cornerstone of his economic agenda, are stirring unease at home, with growing signs of a potential backlash from American businesses, consumers, and even some Republican allies. As of March 19, 2025, the proposals—touted as a way to boost U.S. manufacturing—are facing scrutiny for their possible sting on the very voters who propelled him back to the White House.
Trump has floated tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese imports and 20% on goods from other nations, aiming to shield domestic industries and cut the trade deficit. On the campaign trail, he framed it as a win for American workers: “We’ll bring jobs back—big league.” Yet, with details trickling out post-inauguration, critics warn the measures could backfire, hiking costs for everyday goods and sparking retaliation from trading partners.
Retail giants like Walmart and auto manufacturers have sounded alarms, predicting price jumps on everything from electronics to cars. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, typically a GOP ally, cautioned that tariffs could “hurt the heartland,” where reliance on imported components is high. A study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates a 60% China tariff could cost U.S. households $1,500 annually—a bitter pill for Trump’s blue-collar base already squeezed by inflation.
Political fissures are emerging too. While MAGA loyalists like Senator J.D. Vance cheer the protectionism, moderates like Senator Mitt Romney have dubbed it “a tax on Americans,” hinting at Senate resistance. Farmers, still scarred by China’s soybean boycott during Trump’s first term, fear a repeat. “We can’t afford another trade war,” said an Iowa grower, echoing rural discontent.
Trump remains defiant, claiming on X that “tariffs will make America rich again.” But as his team—led by Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer—gears up to implement the plan, the domestic blowback could test his mandate. With economists forecasting a GDP hit and allies wavering, the tariff gamble may prove his toughest fight yet isn’t abroad, but at home.
