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Around 85 percent of voters are concerned about the impact of U.S. tariffs on Japan’s economy, but less than 30 percent have faith in the negotiating abilities of the Ishiba administration, a survey showed.

Overall, 43 percent are “very concerned” and 42 percent are “somewhat concerned” about the tariffs issued or threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to the nationwide telephone survey of eligible voters conducted by The Asahi Shimbun on April 19 and 20.

Only 11 percent of respondents said they are “not very concerned” about the tariffs, while 3 percent said they are “not concerned at all.”

Sixteen percent of respondents in The Asahi Shimbun’s survey in February said they were not concerned about the U.S. tariffs, while 82 percent said they were “concerned,” including 29 percent who were “very concerned.”

The sharp increase in “very concerned” voters in the latest survey was likely a result of the “reciprocal tariffs” that Trump announced in early April.

Those “very concerned” include: 25 percent of respondents between 18 and 29 years old; 53 percent of respondents in their 60s; and 52 percent of respondents aged 70 or older.

The approval rating of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet was 30 percent, up from 26 percent in the previous survey in March, which was conducted immediately after Ishiba’s gift-giving to new lawmakers was revealed.

The disapproval rating of the Cabinet was 56 percent, down 3 percentage points from March.

When asked about their expectations for the Ishiba administration’s ability to negotiate the tariffs with the United States, 28 percent of respondents were optimistic while 70 percent were pessimistic.

Only 1 percent said they have high expectations of the administration, while 27 percent said they have somewhat high expectations.

Forty-nine percent said they have low expectations, and 21 percent said they have no hope for the administration to succeed in the tariff talks.

Eighty-seven percent of those who disapprove of the Ishiba Cabinet and 41 percent of those who approve have low or no expectations for the administration’s ability to negotiate the tariffs.

Ryosei Akazawa, the minister of economic revitalization who is in charge of handling the tariff negotiations for Japan, visited the United States on April 16 and held talks with Trump and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Both the U.S. and Japanese sides are planning another ministerial meeting within this month.

In the survey, respondents were also asked how they felt about Japan’s response so far to the Trump tariffs.

Fifty-eight percent answered they don’t appreciate the response, while 24 percent said they appreciate it.

Seventy-seven percent of those who disapprove of the Ishiba Cabinet and 29 percent of those who approve take a negative view on the Ishiba administration’s response so far.

Among supporters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, 45 percent of supporters said they appreciate the response, compared with 32 percent who don’t appreciate it.

However, 18 percent of all respondents selected “other” or did not provide an answer, indicating they believe it’s too early to evaluate the Ishiba administration’s response.

The survey was conducted on eligible voters on April 19 and 20 using both landline and mobile phone numbers that were randomly generated by computer. A total of 1,240 of 2,895 voters who received the phone call gave valid answers to the survey.

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