Maintenance Mindset: Poll shows manufacturing sector split on tariff strategy

Welcome to Maintenance Mindset, our editors’ takes on things going on in the worlds of manufacturing and asset management that deserve some extra attention. This will appear regularly in the Member’s Only section of the site.

The nation has turned the corner on the first 100 days of the current Trump presidency, a common point of reflection for many on the priorities of a new administration and a chance to reflect on initial policies. And tariffs are clearly the centerpiece of the economic strategy being pursued by President Trump, a combination of threat and negotiating tactic designed to drive competitive advantage for business in the U.S., especially in manufacturing.

This week's Maintenance Mindset is a quick read-out of a poll conducted with Plant Services readers on April 2, the day that the president announced his most sweeping tariff plans. Of the approximately 180 responses, half were received before President Trump's afternoon announcement of "reciprocal tariffs" and half were received within hours afterwards. 

The question we asked was:

Donald Trump's second presidency is ten weeks in, with new tariffs set to go into effect on April 2nd. How do you feel about his performance so far as it relates to the manufacturing sector?

• 32% - Very satisfied
• 08% - Satisfied
• 08% - Neutral
• 13% - Unsatisfied
• 39% - Very unsatisfied

A follow-on question then invited respondents to "share any other thoughts you have about this administration, as it relates to manufacturing." That question received 26 responses, with most expressing concern over the uncertainty and supply chain disruptions that tariffs and a trade war could introduce into the world economy:

"Tariffs are a huge issue for our business and customers - automotive manufacturers and tier suppliers, packaging machine builders, robot suppliers and integrators, etc. The broad, unfocused application affects raw materials, components, and equipment which in many cases cannot be easily sourced elsewhere and/or easily 'reshored' to the USA. All in favor of selective, focused tariffs, but the current policy is not helpful."

"We need stable plans.  We have gotten see-saw direction on tariffs and DOGE cuts/reversals. Instability is not good for manufacturing to make long term plans."

"Very unsatisfied with tariffs and their effect on the global supply chain."

"Uncertainty is a killer of innovation and growth. Scheduled announcements may offer direction but as seen with USMCA and related trading partners, no decision is final or honored. In short, today's direction can change like the weather, which does not help industry."

"These on again/off again tariffs are tough. The uncertainty is difficult to develop a plan. Furthermore, if tariffs are in place for this administration and some manufacturing moves back, what will happen with the next administration?"

Respondents who were more satisfied with president's plans most commonly cited a desire for the U.S. to redress years of manufacturing off-shoring, as well as a need to stay competitive by matching any tariffs levied on U.S. goods by other nations: 

"Tariffs should be equivalent, not one-sided. If other countries have high tariffs for their benefit we should match. Also, this is not a 'quick fix', things have been lopsided for a long time. It will take time to work this out and see the long-term benefits."

"The admin has a healthy focus on boosting manufacturing in general and more importantly that relating to the national security of US. Will there be some discomfort in pushing the change yes, but nothing like the economic losses resulting over decades due to the great outsourcing of manufacturing that has occured. Those lost manufacturing opportunities can't be quantified, because manufacturing in the US was limited, pressured by foreign tariffs on our exports and poor technical education in the US as educators and institutions neglected focus on economically valuable skills needed."

"Other countries have tariffs on our products - we should put the same on their products. We need a lot of manufacturing to come back to the USA."

We thank everyone who took time to respond to this poll.