President Donald Trump continues to divide Rhode Island’s business community, which still largely expects him to buoy individual businesses, but remains skeptical about his approach to some national and international issues.
The division was highlighted in a survey released on May 8 by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber asked its 1,100 members a series of questions about Trump, his impact on Rhode Island business and what he means for the United States economy.
“The survey results show a population that’s definitely divided,” said Laurie White, Chamber president. “But when you drill down into the results, there’s a general belief that his administration will be good for business.”
A narrow majority of respondents, 53.7 percent, surveyed between April 18 and May 5, said the country was headed in the right direction. The rest – 46.3 percent – said the United States was headed “down the wrong path.”
But many more respondents – 43.1 percent – believe the Trump administration will positively impact their individual businesses compared to the 29.3 percent who expect a negative impact. The dynamic, White said, is consistent with other business surveys she’s seen nationally.
Much of the optimism, White explained, is driven by Trump’s promise to deliver comprehensive tax reform. And when asked what the government should focus most on, the greatest number of respondents, 33.9 percent, called for the reduction of regulations (an equal number called for improving infrastructure).
Rhode Island businesses are completely divided on efforts by Trump and the Republican-backed Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as 38.6 percent of respondents favor repeal and replace, while 38.6 percent oppose it, according to the survey.
“No matter how you feel about the ACA, there are aspects that can and should be preserved, but doing away with the more-onerous aspects, particularly the individual mandate, is [supported by businesses],” White said.
When it comes to immigration, Rhode Island businesses largely disagree with the president. More than half – 51.7 percent – oppose Trump’s proposed travel ban from six Muslim-majority countries, while 29.3 percent support it.
On trade, 51.7 percent of respondents say free-trade agreements, such as NAFTA, have helped the United States, compared with the 25.9 percent who said they hurt the country.
White says Ocean State businesses would like to see the president focus on issues that would be beneficial to business owners. And she’s concerned that issues of foreign policy could distract from issues at home.
“[Trump] ran on the concept of nationalism … where people wanted more focus around domestic policy, rather than something that would lure this nation into yet another military conflict,” she said.
