A recent online poll by London-based firm Public First for Politico shows a surprising lack of confidence in President Donald Trump's predictability when it comes to future US-UK trade deals.
Surveying roughly 2,000 adults in the United States and the United Kingdom between April 23 and 27, the poll uncovers that fewer than one-third of UK respondents and just 44% of Americans believe Trump would stick to agreed terms. Unpredictability was named the biggest barrier to a smooth US-UK trade partnership by 47% of Americans, including 25% of his own supporters and 36% of independents.
Meanwhile, respondents in the UK appear to be looking beyond the US for reliable partners. Some 42% of British adults said the Chinese mainland would be a more dependable trading partner, with a majority of under-34s sharing this view. Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, told Politico, “China is looking a lot better these days, given that they're not unilaterally and without provocation lashing out at even folks they thought were their closest allies and trading partners.”
This data highlights the rising importance of stable global partnerships in an age of shifting geopolitical tides—and shows how public sentiment, especially among younger demographics, can influence the direction of international trade policy.
As trade negotiations evolve in a post-Brexit and post-pandemic world, maintaining consistent policies could prove just as important as tariff rates in winning public trust.
Reference(s):
Poll: Trump's trade unpredictability worries Britons, Americans
cgtn.com
