By Sama Marwan,
A poll conducted by the American network CBS revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump enjoys widespread approval regarding his handling of economic policies, although the same cannot be said for inflation.
According to the Financial Times, which published the poll results, 51% of Americans surveyed approve of Trump’s approach to the economy. However, 46% expressed disapproval of his efforts to tackle inflation.
The survey showed that both Democrats and Republicans want Trump to focus on the economy and inflation. However, fewer respondents believe he prioritizes these issues, instead emphasizing border security, tariffs, and the federal workforce.
Trade Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China
Meanwhile, the Financial Times cited statements by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who announced that Trump would impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada starting Tuesday, though the exact rates are still under consideration.
Lutnick noted that while Mexico and Canada have taken “significant” steps to address Trump’s concerns over border crossings, their actions were not sufficient to ease his frustration regarding fentanyl-related deaths in the U.S. He added that Trump is still evaluating his decision and will finalize the tariff rates on Tuesday.
Additionally, Trump has pledged to impose a 10% tariff on China starting Tuesday, reinforcing previous 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. However, Lutnick hinted that the final rates might be lower than initially announced.
As for China, Lutnick stated that Beijing has little room for negotiation before Tuesday’s deadline. He warned that unless China halts fentanyl production or its support for its production, Trump will impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods.
In response, China has vowed countermeasures to defend its economic interests. Beijing announced last week that it has tightened regulations on precursor chemicals and substances related to fentanyl.
Lutnick concluded, “If China thinks they can escalate tensions, they should remember that they sell far more to the U.S. than we sell to them.”
