This Week in the Mayonnaise Clinic: Why Doesn't Biden Lift All Of Trump's Tariffs Already?

Plus: Why is Josh telling me what color shirts I can wear?

Dear readers,

It’s Wednesday, and so it’s time for a big heap of mayonnaise — which, by the way, is on sale this week at Stop & Shop, with a dollar-off digital coupon. Enjoy the delicious savings!

Okay, now the mail. Woody has an observation based on my favorite monthly poll question:

I read that the administration is waffling on lifting a lot of the tariffs on China, out of fear of being attacked by Republicans for being soft on China. Perhaps you want to note that in the past four months “the situation with China” has registered between 0% and 1% in Gallup’s “most important problem” poll question.

Yes, few voters say they are focused on China, while many say they are focused on inflation.¹ And I agree that makes the politics pretty clear cut — lifting tariffs would both lower inflation a bit and give Biden something to point to about what he’s doing about inflation, and that would be a lot more important than anyone thinking he’s being soft on China. There are also still-remaining Trump-era tariffs that apply to other countries, including European ones, that would be an even easier political lift, vis-a-vis public opinion.

But I don’t think public opinion about China is actually what’s holding Biden back.