In Trump's trade war, how much will the Americans be patriotic? : NPR

Bob Best enthusiastically supports President Trump's tough policies against China and other countries.

"I'm not a big fare. I'm a supporter of free trade, "says Best, who runs a heating and cooling business in Kennesaw, Georgia.

"But sometimes, when the bully does not listen, you have to punch him in the mouth. And that's what he does."

Best supports the actions of the president even if they affect him directly. The price of the heating and air conditioning units sold by his company increased by $ 150 apiece after construction, as Trump had imposed tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum. ;last year. He was forced to pass on this increase to his customers.

Trump will have to appeal to the national pride of the United States and even their patriotism to succeed in leveling the playing field with China. Indeed, virtually all Americans will probably feel an impact if Trump's tariffs are applied pretty much to everything imported from China. He will have to convince Americans that the issue transcends their own interests.

Americans may not want to pay more for imported products, but they tend to tolerate them more if they feel their values ​​are at stake, said Henry Olsen, senior advisor at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. .

"I think you have an element of patriotism," says Olsen. "People recognize that the Chinese government is not a free government, nor a democratic government, and that it is becoming more and more of a threat to us and other countries that believe in these things."

As an abstract idea, Americans are big supporters of the trade. Seventy-four percent view trade as a net benefit to the economy. Mohamed Younis, editor-in-chief at Gallup News, said most people thought that trade was driving down prices overall and leading to greater product selection.

But 62 percent of Americans think trade with China is unfair, he said.

Last week, Trump increased tariffs on Chinese products worth $ 200 billion from 10% to 25%. He threatened to take that amount on $ 325 billion worth of additional assets.

Customs duties are similar to taxes paid by importers in US ports at customs clearance. These companies must either absorb the cost themselves or pass it on to their customers. The risk for Trump is that Americans refuse to pay more. Until now, there is virtually no evidence.

And the support of the hardest hit remains firm. Even farmers, who have been hard hit by the trade war, continue to provide considerable support for Trump, says Rhonda Brooks, chief editor of Farm newspaperwho regularly asks breeders and farmers about their political views.

"They firmly believe that it 's about a president who is more than any other president in recent history who actually talks about farmers and recognizes them at least, and that' s the only thing that 's going on. he wants to help them, "said Brooks.