Japanese want concrete steps taken to counter Trump tariffs

Nearly 60% of respondents to a poll conducted on March 15 and 16 indicated that Japan should take countermeasures over U.S. President Donald Trump’s raising of tariffs.

This position, at 58%, was selected much more than “there’s no need for countermeasures,” which garnered just 15% of replies. Those who answered “I don’t know” comprised 26%.

Trump’s administration plans to raise tariffs on automobiles to 25%, or 10 times their existing level, on April 2. This will apply to all countries, Japan included.

Japan is also among the countries subject to tariffs on aluminium and steel that went into effect on March 12.

By gender, 64% of men and 53% of women selected that Japan should take a stand against Trump.

By political party affiliations, the figures for the same selection were 55% among those supporting the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and hovered around 65 to just below 70% among supporters of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Nippon Ishin (the Japan Innovation Party) and the Democratic Party for the People.

The online poll was carried out using NTT Docomo Inc.’s d-survey, linked to its “d Point Club” rewards program.

Respondents were randomly selected from around 70 million users aged 18 and above across the country, with valid responses from 2,047 people.