New York City residents have voiced urgent concerns about President Donald Trump's tariff policies, warning of their destabilizing effects on the economy, the strain they impose on international partnerships, and the precarious position they create for the nation's financial future.
Since April 2, the U.S. "reciprocal tariff" storm has significantly reshaped the economy, leaving various sectors grappling with negative impacts.
To explore these concerns, a China Global Television Network (CGTN) correspondent spoke to New Yorkers from diverse professions and age groups. Residents expressed their frustrations over the far-reaching consequences of the tariff policies.
"It's infuriating. I mean, here we have gone from a super strong economy to one that is on the brink of disaster, and it's a totally self-inflicted wound. We don't need to be in this situation, but we're in the situation now where our trading partners think we're enemies. And for no reason, we're in this very stable economic position and now we're in a precarious, dangerous one. It's insane. It's very upsetting," said Kateleen Mcdougal, a teacher.
"It gets me upset that some people actually defend the tariffs and how it's being handled. The customers are going to be paying for [it] – the actual citizens, and I think people should be more aware of that," said Tim Wallace, a banker.
"I think there's a lot of damage that's being created. We have had a lot of incredible partnerships with other countries where goods go back and forth very easily, like with Mexico and Canada, and I think it's going to cripple our economy," said Josh Morgan, a marketing sales associate.
"I think Trump should forget these tariffs, because he's doing it to create business in the United States, but it's not going to create business in the United States," said Joseph Porter, a retiree.
Residents also noted that tariff policies are already impacting their daily lives, most notably through rising grocery prices. Many expressed plans to cut back on spending or stick to buying only essential items.
"It's showing up in the grocery stores. The prices have gone up. It's quite ridiculous, because I know during Christmas time, everything is going to be very expensive," said Rita Charris, a sales industry worker.
"Because I've been really nervous about the tariffs, I actually bought a bunch of things before the tariffs came into place. It is affecting me and that I'm not buying anything, because I don't want to see how terrible the tariffs are," said Mcdougal.
"I don't buy the things that I assume are most affected which are vehicles and higher priced stuff. I try not to consume that much, so I don't really buy a lot of items other than daily necessities," said Christian Douglas, a salesman.
"All tariffs are going to do is raise prices, and I mean any businesses that are created in the United States will also raise prices because that's why we buy from overseas because it costs less to buy from overseas," said Porter.
New York residents speak out on Trump's tariff policies as economic impacts deepen
