Poll: Foreign Trade Good For U.S.
A majority of Americans agree that foreign trade is good for the U.S. economy, but they do not believe free trade should come at the expense of domestic industries, a CBS News poll has found.
Sixty-seven percent of Americans think the effect of international trade is positive, but almost as many believe trade restrictions are necessary to protect American industries.
Americans polled were progressively less enthusiastic about foreign trade the lower their income, education level and opinions of the current economic condition of the country was.
Read the data and analysis from new CBS News poll:Foreign Trade and the U.S. Economy (.pdf)
Free Trade And The Economy
NOW
Good
67 percent
Bad
20 percent
1996
Good
69 percent
Bad
17 percent
Education of those who rate foreign trade as "good:"
Some groups are more positive about the benefits of foreign trade on the national economy than others. Americans are more likely to see trade as beneficial as their incomes and education levels increase.
Total
67 percent
Less than high school education
52 percent
High school graduate
58 percent
Some college
70 percent
College graduate
80 percent
Post-graduate
84 percent
Republicans are more likely to describe foreign trade as good for the economy than are Democrats and Independents, and while large majority of whites say that trade is good for the economy, only 44 percent of blacks agree.
Free Trade Vs. Trade Restrictions
By more than two to one, Americans say trade restrictions are necessary to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. Although this number dipped to 56 percent in July of 2000, it is nearly identical to what it was ten years ago.
NOW
Restrictions on trade are necessary
64 percent
Free trade must be allowed
29 percent
July, 2000
Restrictions on trade are necessary
56 percent
Free trade must be allowed
31 percent
October, 1996
Restrictions on trade are necessary
63 percent
Free trade must be allowed
27 percent
This poll was conducted among a nationwide random sample of 1229 adults, interviewed by telephone January 20-25, 2006. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points.