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The survey revealed that 7 out of 10 Americans say that food has become expensive after tariffs. The increase in expenses is not limited to food items only. Six out of every 10 people said that their electricity and water bills have increased.
New Delhi. Donald Trump is trying to show ‘beautiful dreams’ to American citizens by imposing huge tariffs on many countries including India, but the reality is something different. Surveys by ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos have revealed that tariffs have increased inflation. From food items to electricity bills, the rates of everything of daily use have increased. On the other hand, the impact of tariffs on the Indian economy has not been as bad as Trump had thought. India has absorbed the impact of tariffs to a great extent by diversifying its exports. India’s total merchandise exports increased by 6.7% to $36.38 billion in September, but exports to the US declined by 11.9% to $5.46 billion.
The survey revealed that 7 out of 10 Americans say that food has become expensive after tariffs. The increase in expenses is not limited to food items only. 6 out of every 10 people said that their electricity and water bills have increased, while 1 in 4 said that the prices of health, housing and fuel have increased. 89% of Democrats, 73% of independent voters and 52% of Republicans believe that grocery prices are skyrocketing. Women said that they are feeling the pressure of cost of living more than men.
Public displeasure over tariff policy
There is increasing public anger against the imposition of heavy import duties on foreign goods by the Trump administration. The matter has now also reached the US Supreme Court. About 65% of Americans say the tariff policy has increased inflation and hurt the economy.
impact on india
The Trump administration has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on many countries including India. In August 2025, the US added an additional 25% duty on Indian goods, taking the total tax to 50%. According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), India’s exports to the US declined by 37.5% between May and September 2025. Exports to America were $8.8 billion in May, which fell to $5.5 billion in September.
India got America’s cut
To protect its exports from US tariffs, India is working on market diversification policy and it has started showing results. After the US duty increased from 25% to 50%, Indian exporters increasingly turned to new markets in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Trade figures for September show that new buyers have been found in many sectors. After increasing the tariff by America, India has increased the export of cotton textiles to UAE, France and Japan.
US exports of marine products declined by 26.9%, but increased by more than 60% to China, Vietnam and Thailand. Exports of tea and beverages to America have fallen by 22% but exports to UAE, Iraq and Germany have increased. Export of Basmati rice to Iran has increased six times to $41.07 million.
