About half of Americans view the large U.S. trade deficit with other countries as an economic emergency, according to a poll released on Tuesday, a day before the Supreme Court is due to consider the legality of sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under a law meant for emergencies.
The poll, commissioned by the Alliance for American Manufacturing, found that 47% of respondents view the persistently large U.S. trade deficit as an emergency.
This sentiment was shared across party lines, according to the poll, with 47% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans among the respondents agreeing.
The policy group led by the United Steelworkers union and domestic manufacturers said 40% of the 2,202 adults surveyed believed that trade deficits eroded the U.S. economy and weakened national security. In contrast, 20% saw trade deficits as a sign of economic strength, with strong demand promoting global trade.
The remaining 40% believed neither characterization was correct, or did not know enough to answer, the group said.
The poll, conducted by Morning Consult in mid-October, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
