Fabrizio Ward Survey Finds Strong Bipartisan Support for Duty Drawback
Survey Shows Repealing Longstanding Trade Policy Would be a Political Loser
WASHINGTON – A new poll from Restoring American Dominance shows strong bipartisan support for maintaining the duty drawback policy, which refunds tariffs on imported materials used to make products in the United States that are later exported. The findings reveal that voters in the most competitive 2026 Congressional districts overwhelmingly back policies that strengthen American manufacturing, promote exports, and encourage investment in U.S. production.
Duty Drawback came under attack by powerful special interests during the reconciliation process earlier this summer. It was partially repealed in the House version of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), but following significant backlash from the agriculture and manufacturing community, the repeal was scrapped from the Senate version that President Trump ultimately signed into law. The poll comes on the heels of a recent piece published by Americans for Tax Reform urging Congress to protect Duty Drawback in order to "strengthen US manufacturing and boost exports.”
The Fabrizio Ward poll of 1,000 registered voters across 28 targeted congressional districts found that by a margin of 59% to 17%, voters support the duty drawback policy once it is explained to them. Among Trump voters, support climbs to 71% to 10%, with majorities of both Swing and Harris voters also expressing approval.
The data show that Republican candidates risk losing support from their base if they move to end duty drawback as a revenue measure. On the current generic ballot for the U.S. House, the Democrat leads by three points, within the margin of error. However, when voters are told that a Republican candidate supports ending duty drawback, the gap widens to a 10-point disadvantage, driven by erosion among Trump voters who prioritize pro-manufacturing policies.
By more than a 3:1 margin, voters support maintaining duty drawback as a program that promotes exports and rewards companies that build products in the U.S.
Republican candidates who oppose duty drawback risk losing their advantage. In competitive House districts, a candidate supporting its repeal loses 7 points overall and sees a 26-point drop in support among core Trump voters.
More than nine in ten voters say it is important for Congress to support policies that incentivize American manufacturing and create U.S. jobs, including 68% who call it very important. Among Trump voters, that number rises to 89%.
By an 83% to 13% margin, voters say it is important for Congress to support tax policies that encourage U.S. companies to manufacture products domestically for export.
Voters also strongly back policies that promote foreign direct investment in American manufacturing rather than sending investment overseas, with 81% saying such efforts are important, including 90% of Trump voters and three-quarters of both Swing and Harris voters.
Fabrizio Ward conducted the survey on behalf of Restoring American Dominance from October 5–7, 2025, interviewing 1,000 registered voters in the 28 most competitive House districts across the country. The margin of error is ±3.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish via landlines, cell phones, and SMS-to-web.
About the Restoring American Dominance (RAD) Coalition: Restoring American Dominance (RAD) is a conservative nonprofit organization that supports President Donald Trump’s mission to bring back homegrown, American manufacturing and bring about a golden age for the American people. We are a group of concerned employers, workers, and policy experts who understand that American dominance of global manufacturing, trade, and innovation is essential for unleashing an American golden age. The RAD Coalition will work to support the Trump Administration’s agenda to strengthen America’s workers, restore America’s economic strength, and unleash manufacturing across the country.
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