As President Trump travels to Beijing for a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, new polling shows Americans view China primarily as an economic rival seeking greater global influence — but they also want a working trade relationship that keeps consumer prices down.
Key findings
Perceptions of China
– Nearly eight in 10 respondents say China wants to be the dominant world leader. Only 13% say China represents no threat to the U.S.
– By 56% to 29%, Americans see the threat from China as more economic than military.
– A plurality calls China a rival (37%), while 21% call it an adversary. About one in five see China as a necessary strategic partner; 2% view it as an ally.
– Of the 10 countries included in the survey, only Russia is viewed more antagonistically (two-thirds see Russia as an adversary or rival). Australia ranks highest as an ally (51%), followed by Japan, Germany and South Korea; Saudi Arabia and India are often seen as strategic partners.
Views on tariffs and trade
– Tariffs are broadly seen as harmful: 76% say tariffs are bad for the U.S. cost of living, 70% say they harm Americans’ standard of living, 61% say they’re bad for creating U.S. jobs. Large majorities also say tariffs hurt the Chinese (72%) and American (66%) economies.
– Partisan splits are large. Majorities of Republicans say tariffs help create jobs (66%), boost the U.S. economy (64%) and improve their standard of living (52%). Independents and Democrats largely disagree.
– A strong majority (62%) opposes significantly reducing trade with China, a shift from 2020–21 when more Americans favored cutting trade even at the cost of higher prices. With prices still a concern, many now prioritize keeping costs lower.
– Fifty-eight percent oppose increasing tariffs on Chinese imports. Seventy percent would like to see tariffs reduced in exchange for China buying more U.S. agricultural products and do not want trade cut off.
– At the same time, seven in 10 want to bar U.S. companies from selling sensitive high-tech products to China. On limiting Chinese students in the U.S., opinion is closer: a slim majority (53%) opposes caps.
– Republicans are more protectionist: about 75% of Republicans favor raising tariffs, six in 10 would accept reduced trade even if prices rise, and seven in 10 support limiting Chinese students.
Views on the war in Iran and its effects
– Separate Chicago Council/Ipsos questions find Americans overwhelmingly say the war in Iran has been harmful: 86% say it’s bad for the U.S. cost of living, 65% say it’s bad for U.S. national security, and 72% say it’s bad for the U.S. reputation abroad.
– Although many say the war harms China as well, more respondents think the conflict has improved China’s global position (36%) than say it has been good for U.S. national security (32%), U.S. relationships with allies (24%), the global economy (14%) or the U.S. cost of living (10%).
– Partisan differences are stark: majorities of Republicans view the war as beneficial for U.S. national security (63%) and Israel’s security (60%), and half of Republicans say it has helped the U.S. reputation and relationships with allies. By contrast, just 8% of Democrats and 29% of independents say the war has been good for U.S. national security; only 5% of Democrats and 20% of independents say it has been good for U.S. reputation.
Israel and domestic political divides
– The war remains a political flashpoint. Sixty percent of Republicans say the war has been good for Israel’s security; only about 20% of Democrats and roughly one-third of independents agree. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans say Israel plays a positive role in the Middle East, while 83% of Democrats and 70% of independents characterize Israel’s role as negative.
– These divisions reflect changing sympathies in U.S. public opinion, with higher proportions of Americans — especially Democrats — expressing greater sympathy for Palestinians than in previous years.
How closely Americans follow foreign news
– Foreign policy issues draw less attention than domestic ones. Only 42% say they follow U.S.-China relations at least somewhat closely. By comparison, 70% follow the domestic economy closely, 67% the war in Iran, and 65% immigration. Forty-three percent follow the Russia-Ukraine war closely.
Poll methodology
– The China-related questions come from an NPR/Chicago Council on Global Affairs/Ipsos online survey conducted March 13–15 among 1,025 U.S. adults (±3.1 percentage points). The Iran questions are from a Chicago Council/Ipsos survey conducted May 1–3 with 1,018 adults (±3.2 percentage points). Both used Ipsos’ online panel.
Bottom line
– Americans overwhelmingly see China as an economic competitor and want protections on sensitive technologies, but they are wary of cutting trade or raising tariffs because of the impact on prices and living standards. Views on foreign conflicts, especially Iran and Israel, are sharply divided along partisan lines, and overall public attention to international affairs remains lower than attention to domestic issues.