Public Opinion of International Trade: America and the World

Abstract

As was discussed in the initial chapter, public opinion polls indicate that a considerable portion of the US public expresses negative opinions when asked about varying facets of international trade. This opposition to trade is persistent and not at all insignificant. Additionally, the extent of anti-trade sentiment exhibited by the American public is largely out of step with public opinion elsewhere in the world. In fact, it appears that the United States may be one of the most trade-wary societies in the world. Before attempting to understand why it is that Americans are less supportive of trade as compared to people in most other countries, it is worthwhile to illustrate the extent to which Americans are unsupportive of trade and the cleavage in public opinion on the issue between Americans and the rest of the world.