People usually vote for lower prices, which translates to lower trade barriers and cheap imports. But the EV tariff thing is another instance of people voting

People usually vote for lower prices, which translates to lower trade barriers and cheap imports. But the EV tariff thing is another instance of people voting for their interests, even if the result is the opposite: US conservatives are a) concerned about Chinese influence and b) rightly or wrongly think tariffs are the least bad form of tax, and at the same time on the left there are very numerous car union members who vote as a bloc and want to protect their jobs. So the easy answer for the politicians - in this case - is to levy tariffs. But it's all driven by the people and the way they vote and buy.