Americans are feeling the squeeze of increased grocery prices, and concern is shared across party lines. 

A new poll commissioned by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), and conducted by RealClear Opinion Research, found that 87% of voters, including 82% of people who voted for President Donald Trump, are concerned about the cost of groceries. 

The poll also found that half of voters surveyed characterised groceries as very or extremely expensive, while nearly three in four parents say their monthly grocery bill has increased in the past three months.

This comes at a time when the Trump Administration continues to impose Section 232 tariffs on the tinplate steel used to make food cans. 

The poll shows that Americans understand the connection between these tariffs and increased food costs, with 70% of Trump voters agreeing that tariffs on materials like tinplate steel are making groceries more expensive.

“Tariffs on tinplate steel have real and unintended consequence for U.S. can manufacturers, farmers, food producers, and millions of American families that rely on canned goods,” said Scott Breen, President of the Can Manufacturers Institute. 

“Targeted tariff relief on steel used for packaging is an opportunity for the Trump Administration to address rising food costs, limit foreign imports of canned foods, provide relief to U.S. farmers, and protect thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs. This is a narrow adjustment to trade policy that puts America first.”

The RealClear Opinion Research poll found that 72% of voters, including 71% of Trump voters, support a tariff exemption on tinplate steel. 

Tinplate steel is a specialised product, and its production makes up less than 1% of total steel production worldwide. Nearly 80% of tinplate for domestic can manufacturing is imported.

“The Trump Administration is rightfully using tariffs to stimulate domestic production, but data shows tariffs do not lead to investments in tinplate,” Breen said. 

“Since President Trump put in place Section 232 tariffs on steel in 2018, nine of 12 U.S. tinplate lines have stopped running, leaving steel can manufacturers no choice but to import from trade allies like Canada, the European Union, and United Kingdom. 

“There has been no payoff for the higher costs for canned goods that tariffs on tinplate are creating since U.S. steel companies have only announced investments in higher volume steel products. Targeted and immediate tariff relief for tinplate would be a significant win for American consumers, farmers, food producers, and can manufacturers.”

The poll also shows that 90% of Americans believe it is critical that the U.S. grows its own food, rather than relying on foreign imports, including competitors like China. Metal tariffs increase the cost to make food cans in the United States, giving foreign competitors an advantage, with most of the 1.7 billion imported cans of food being cheaper and nearly 25% of those food cans coming from China.

Other Key Findings From RealClear Opinion Research:

• 98% of Trump voters find it important that the U.S. grows and produces its own food, including canned foods, rather than relying on foreign imports.
• 80% of Americans are concerned that the U.S. is becoming increasingly dependent on China and other countries that produce canned foods at a low cost.
• 60% of voters do not trust the safety of food products grown and made in China, while 91% of voters trust the safety of products grown in the United States by U.S. farmers and made in the U.S.
• 59% of voters, including 71% of Trump voters, say a canned food item being from China makes them less likely to buy the product.