GMO Research Measures U.S. Public Support for Tariffs on China and Korea

Policymakers, corporations, and advocacy groups needed an up-to-date, reliable measure of U.S. public opinion about tariffs on goods from China and South Korea. Rising geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policy proposals created uncertainty about consumer sentiment, political risk, and likely public reaction to any new tariff measures. The stakes were high: misreading public opinion could lead to ineffective policy, damaged reputations, misallocated lobbying spend, poor corporate communications, and costly supply-chain or pricing decisions.

GMO Research fielded a nationally representative online survey using its proprietary research panel and best-practice quota and weighting procedures to ensure demographic and geographic representativeness. The study combined standard public-opinion polling with deep segmentation

(age, income, party ID, region, industry employment),

cross-tabs by issue salience (jobs, inflation, national security), and clear visualization deliverables. The engagement included topline findings, detailed segment tables, and actionable messaging recommendations tailored to stakeholders.

GMO Research delivered a timely, rigorous read on U.S. sentiment toward tariffs, highlighting overall levels of support and the demographic, political, and regional differences that mattered most. The results identified the core concerns driving opinions (e.g., price inflation vs. job protection), revealed which voter segments were persuadable, and supplied messaging approaches that resonated with key audiences. Client stakeholders used the findings to refine policy positions, prioritize outreach and communications, and adjust risk assessments for pricing and supply-chain strategies. The study produced media-ready charts and a stakeholder summary that accelerated decision-making and reduced the risk of missteps in public and corporate communications.

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