--- title: "3. Views of trade between China and the U.S." description: "Americans tend to say U.S.-China trade benefits China more, though they’re skeptical that increased tariffs on China will be good for themselves or the U.S." date: "2025-04-17" authors: - name: "Christine Huang" job_title: "Former Research Associate" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/christine-huang/" - name: "Laura Silver" job_title: "Associate Director, Global Attitudes Research" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/laura-silver/" - name: "Laura Clancy" job_title: "Research Analyst" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/laura-clancy/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/04/17/views-of-trade-between-china-and-the-us/" categories: - "China Global Image" - "Global Balance of Power" - "Global Economy & Trade" - "Global Trade" - "International Affairs" --- # 3. Views of trade between China and the U.S. Americans tend to believe the U.S.-China trade relationship benefits China more than the U.S.: 46% hold this view, while a quarter say both countries benefit equally and 10% say the U.S. benefits more. Nonetheless, Americans are skeptical that increased tariffs on Chinese imports will have a positive effect on the country or on their own lives. (The survey was conducted March 24-30, 2025, after President Donald Trump [implemented tariffs on China in February](https://www.reuters.com/business/trump-readies-order-steep-tariffs-goods-mexico-canada-china-2025-02-01/) and again in [early March](https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-china-643086a6dc7ff716d876b3c83e3255b0), but before further tariffs were [imposed in April](https://www.dw.com/en/trump-tariffs-us-to-charge-145-on-chinese-goods/live-72194124). China responded with tariffs on the U.S. [both before](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8zg7ll09o) and [after the survey was fielded](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-trump-tariffs-trade-war-04-09-25/card/china-raises-retaliatory-tariffs-on-u-s-goods-to-84-matching-trump-15aHOXTdWFDVAjyXelxm).) ### Who benefits most from the U.S.-China trade relationship? When asked whether one country benefits more from U.S.-China trade, the largest share of Americans (46%) say China does, largely unchanged [since we last asked the question in 2023](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2023/04/12/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia/#americans-no-longer-see-china-as-the-world-s-leading-economy-but-still-see-its-economic-strength-as-a-problem-for-the-u-s). The U.S.-China trade relationship is seen as more unbalanced than the U.S.-Canada or U.S.-Mexico trade relationships. [![Bar chart showing Americans tend to say China is the main beneficiary in U.S.-China trade relationship](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/04/PG_2025.04.17_us-views-of-china_03-01.png?w=840)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=223223) *For more on U.S. assessments of trade with the country’s top trade partners, read “*[*How Americans view trade between the U.S. and China, Canada and Mexico*](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/04/08/how-americans-view-trade-between-the-us-and-china-canada-and-mexico/).*”* #### Views by party Republicans and Democrats see different winners in the U.S.-China trade relationship. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, a 60% majority say China benefits more from U.S.-China trade. Conservative Republicans are especially likely to hold this view (69%). In comparison, Democrats and Democratic leaners are equally divided between saying China benefits more and saying the two countries benefit equally (34% take each stance). #### Views by age Older Americans are more likely than younger adults to see China as the main beneficiary of trade between the U.S. and China. A majority of those ages 65 and older (56%) say China benefits more than the U.S., compared with 27% of those ages 18 to 29. ### How do Americans feel about increased tariffs on China? As of mid-April, Trump has [implemented increasingly high tariffs](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-10/trump-tariffs-on-china-now-at-least-145-as-trade-war-ramps-up) on imports from China – adding to the tariffs [put in place during his first administration](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/business/china-tariffs-us.html). [![Bar chart showing Americans tend to say tariffs on China will be bad for the U.S. and for them personally](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/04/PG_2025.04.17_us-views-of-china_03-02.png?w=840)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=223224) **Many more Americans think increased tariffs on China will be bad for the U.S. – *and for them personally* – than say these tariffs will be good.** Around a quarter say either that increased tariffs will have no effect on the U.S. or that they are unsure about tariffs’ national effects. Over a third say the same about how tariffs will affect them personally. When we [asked similar questions in 2021](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/03/04/most-americans-support-tough-stance-toward-china-on-human-rights-economic-issues/#americans-favor-tougher-stance-on-china-economic-policies-question-efficacy-of-tariffs), people were more likely to say tariffs would have a negative impact on the country than on themselves personally. Now, relatively equal shares anticipate a negative impact on both. Americans who think the U.S. benefits more than China does from U.S.-China trade are far more likely to see the tariffs as bad than good for the country (68% vs. 18%). The same is true for those who think both countries benefit equally from U.S.-China trade – they tend to say tariffs will affect the U.S. negatively (71%) rather than positively (11%). **Those who say China benefits more from U.S.-China trade are about equally likely to say tariffs on China will be bad for the U.S. as to say they will be good (41% vs. 37%).** *For more views of increasing tariffs on China, read “*[*Americans Give Early Trump Foreign Policy Actions Mixed or Negative Reviews*](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/04/08/americans-give-early-trump-foreign-policy-actions-mixed-or-negative-reviews/).*”[]* --- **Next:** [4. Views of China as a competitor and threat to the U.S.](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/04/17/views-of-china-as-a-competitor-and-threat-to-the-us.md)