What an awful sentence.
Polls have made this clear?
The US economy may (or may not) slow down due to economic factors. Polling really has nothing to do with it.
And further: President Trump does not "need" a trade deal with China. He just doesn't.
The complete iliteracy about economic conditions by the author and by extension the publisher necessitate the shutdown of the Asia Times, according to polls.
And maybe there is something greater at stake here than a short downturn in the economy? Maybe it shows that Trump is willing to lose political points by doing the right thing for the country.