International Trade

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Business News ] [ Economic Outlook ] [ Investing ] [ Best Companies ] [ International Trade ]

International Trade / Global Economy See also: China

Polls listed chronologically. Data are from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older.

Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll. May 1-8, 2008. N=2,208 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.
						.
"Generally speaking, do you believe that free international trade has helped or hurt the economy, or hasn't it made a difference to the economy one way or the other?"
						.
		Helped	Hurt	No Difference	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	5/1-8/08	26	50	10	14
	11/30 - 12/3/07	27	44	16	13

Pew Research Center/Council on Foreign Relations survey conducted by Abt SRBI. April 23-27, 2008. N=1,502 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.

"In general, do you think that free trade agreements -- like NAFTA, and the policies of the World Trade Organization -- have been a good thing or a bad thing for the United States?" Upon request, respondents were read full name of NAFTA: "The North American Free Trade Agreement."

		Good Thing	Bad Thing	Unsure
		%	%	%
	4/23-27/08	35	48	17

"Thinking about the financial situation of you and your family -- do you think these free trade agreements have definitely helped, probably helped, probably hurt, or definitely hurt the financial situation of you and your family?"

		Definitely Helped	Probably Helped	Probably Hurt	Definitely Hurt	Neither (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%	%
	4/23-27/08	3	24	32	16	13	12

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). March 7-10, 2008. N=approx. 500 registered voters nationwide.
					.
"Do you think the fact that the American economy has become increasingly global is good because it has opened up new markets for American products and resulted in more jobs, or bad because it has subjected American companies and employees to unfair competition and cheap labor?"
					.
		Good	Bad	Equal (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	3/7-10/08 RV	25	58	12	5
	12/14-17/07 Adults	28	58	11	3
	6/97 Adults	42	48	7	3

Gallup Poll. Feb. 11-14, 2008. N=1,007 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.
				.
"Which one of the following do you think is the leading economic power in the world today: [see below]?" Options rotated
				.
		2/11-14/08	5/18-21/00
		%	%
	China	40	10
	The United States	33	65
	Japan	13	16
	The European Union	7	4
	India	2	-
	Russia	2	2
	Other (vol.)/Unsure	3	3
				.
"Looking ahead twenty years, which one of the following countries do you expect to be the world's leading economic power at that time: [see below]?" Options rotated
				.
		2/11-14/08	5/18-21/00
		%	%
	China	44	15
	The United States	31	55
	Japan	10	13
	The European Union	8	10
	India	4	1
	Russia	1	1
	Other (vol.)/Unsure	2	5

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Oct. 12-14, 2007. N=1,212 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.
					.
"What do you think foreign trade means for America? Do you see foreign trade more as an opportunity for economic growth through increased U.S. exports or a threat to the economy from foreign imports?"
					.
		Opportunity	Threat	Both (vol.)	Neither (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	10/12-14/07	46	45	5	2	2

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Neil Newhouse (R). March 2-5, 2007. N=1,007 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.1 (for all adults).
						.
"Do you believe that the United States is benefiting from the global economy, is being harmed by the global economy, or do you think the global economy has had no impact on the United States one way or the other?"
						.
		Benefiting	Harmed	No Impact	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	3/2-5/07	25	48	14	13
						.
"I'm going to mention several groups of people. For each one, please tell me whether you believe that group is benefiting from today's global economy or being harmed by today's global economy. If you think that the global economy has had no impact on that group one way or the other, please just say so. . . ."
						.
		Benefiting	Harmed	No Impact	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	You personally
	3/2-5/07	27	31	36	6
						.
	The people in your community
	3/2-5/07	25	40	24	11
						.
	Your children
	3/2-5/07	21	30	34	15
						.
"In general, do you think that free trade agreements between the United States and foreign countries have helped the United States, have hurt the United States, or have not made much of a difference either way?" Half sample (Form A)
						.
		Helped	Hurt	Not Much Difference	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	3/2-5/07	28	46	16	10
	12/99	39	30	24	7
	10/99	35	32	24	9
						.
"Currently many people are debating which of two economic approaches makes the most sense for America to pursue. Let me read you each one, and please tell me which comes closer to your point of view. "Viewpoint One: The best way to help Americans here at home is to restrict foreign imports to protect American jobs and products, and to limit the number of legal immigrants who come here to work. "Viewpoint Two: The best way to help Americans here at home is to expand our opportunities in the global marketplace by reducing trade barriers so that U.S. products can compete fairly, and attract and retain immigrants who bring special skills to the U.S." Half sample (Form B)
						.
		Restrict	Expand	Depends (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	3/2-5/07	40	49	8	3

Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll. April 8-11, 2006. N=1,357 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.
.
"As you may know, Congress and the Bush Administration have been pressuring China to revalue its currency as a way of reducing the U.S. trade deficit. Some argue that this pressure would harm U.S. and China relations. What do you think is more important: forcing China to move to a market-based currency that will help reduce the trade deficit, or allowing China to reform its exchange rate at its own pace in order to maintain good economic relations?"
.
		Forcing China To Reform	Reform at Own Pace	Unsure
		%	%	%
	4/8-11/06	26	50	24
.
"Generally speaking, should foreign countries be allowed to invest in all areas of the U.S. economy, or some areas, or no areas of the U.S. economy?"
.
		All Areas	Some Areas	No Areas	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	4/8-11/06	10	67	16	7
.
"Generally speaking, should Arab countries be allowed to invest in all areas of the U.S. economy, or some areas, or no areas of the U.S. economy?"
.
		All Areas	Some Areas	No Areas	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	4/8-11/06	8	56	31	5
.
"Do you agree or disagree with this statement? 'Restrictions on foreign companies are more important than the job creation that these companies could bring to the United States.'"
.
		Agree	Disagree	Unsure
		%	%	%
	4/8-11/06	51	31	18

USA Today/Gallup Poll. April 7-9, 2006. N=1,004 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.
					.
"Do you believe increased trade between the United States and other countries mostly helps or mostly hurts American workers?"
					.
		Helps	Hurts	Unsure
		%	%	%
	4/7-9/06	30	65	6
	11/18-21/99	35	59	6
					.
"Do you believe increased trade between the United States and other countries mostly helps or mostly hurts American companies?"
					.
		Helps	Hurts	Unsure
		%	%	%
	4/7-9/06	44	50	6
	11/18-21/99	56	39	5

*CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll*. Dec. 9-11, 2005. N=1,003 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.
					.
"Next, turning to the subject of trade: What do you think foreign trade means for America? Do you see foreign trade more as an opportunity for economic growth through increased U.S. exports or a threat to the economy from foreign imports?"
					.
		Growth	Threat	Both (vol.)	Neither (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	12/9-11/05	45	46	5	1	3
	6/24-26/05	44	48	3	1	4
	11/03	49	41	4	1	5
	2/02	52	39	6	1	2
	2/01	51	37	8	1	3
	5/00	56	36	4	1	3
	1/00	54	35	4	1	6
	11/94	53	38	4	1	4
	9/92	44	48	2	1	5

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). July 8-11, 2005. N=1,009 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.1.
					.
"In the new global economy, American companies sometimes buy foreign companies, such as Ford buying Volvo, and foreign companies sometimes buy American companies, such as Daimler Benz buying Chrysler. In general do you approve or disapprove of this?"
					.
		Approve	Disapprove	Unsure
		%	%	%
	7/8-11/05	54	33	13

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). May 12-16, 2005. N=approx. 500 adults nationwide.
						.
"I'm going to mention a few elements of the economy. For each one, please tell me whether you think that the Bush Administration's policies are working well in this area, are not working well in this area, or are not having much impact either way . . . ."
						.
		Working Well	Not Working Well	Not Having Much Impact	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
						.
	"Expanding trade with other countries"
		34	34	20	12
						.
	"Keeping white-collar jobs in this country"
		23	48	19	10
						.
	"Keeping manufacturing jobs in this country"
		10	69	16	5
						.
"I'm going to mention several nations around the world. For each one, please tell me whether you think that country or countries are currently a serious economic competitor of the United States, will be a serious economic competitor to the United States in the future, or will never really be a serious economic competitor to the United States . . . ."
						.
		Currently Serious Competitor	Will Be Serious Competitor	Will Never Be Serious Competitor	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
						.
	Japan	71	19	7	3
						.
	China	61	30	5	4
						.
	The European Union	39	35	15	11
						.
	India	23	37	32	8
						.
	Mexico	17	27	51	5
						.
	Russia	12	40	42	6
						.
	South American and Latin American nations	9	38	44	9
						.
	African nations	3	20	68	9

Associated Press-Ipsos poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs. May 17-19, 2004. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.1 (total sample).
					.
"When you are deciding on what product to buy, how often do you check the label to see if the item was made in the United States . . . ?"
					.
		Always	Usually	Sometimes	Seldom	Never
		%	%	%	%	%
	5/04	15	20	27	19	19
					.
"If you were considering a purchase and you saw one product that was made in the United States and a similar product for a lower price that was made in another country, would you probably buy the higher-priced American product or the lower-priced product made in another country?" Half sample (Form A)
					.
		American- made	Lower- priced	Unsure
		%	%	%
	5/04	54	40	6
					.
"If you were considering a purchase and you saw one product that was made in the United States and a similar product for the same price that was made in another country, would you probably buy the American product or the product made in another country?" Half sample (Form B)
					.
		American- made	Foreign- made	Unsure
		%	%	%
	5/04	93	3	4
					.
"Some economists have said outsourcing will help the U.S. economy in the long run by creating prosperity in other countries and, eventually, a stronger market for U.S. goods. Other economists say outsourcing hurts the economy by sending jobs and salaries overseas, without any real long-term benefit. Do you believe outsourcing helps or hurts the economy?" If both: "Would you say outsourcing does more to help or hurt the economy?"
					.
		Helps Economy	Hurts Economy	No Effect (vol.)