By a margin of more than six-to-one (61% to 9%), the U.S. public now says free trade agreements result in job losses rather than in new jobs; a solid majority (56%) also says that free trade makes wages lower in the United States, and half (50%) say it slows the economy.
Nor do most Americans see a benefit from trade in lower prices for things they buy. A 39% plurality says free trade leads to higher prices for Americans, while 29% say that prices are lower because of free trade. In December of 2006, a slim plurality said free trade agreements lead to lower prices for American consumers. The public does see one beneficiary from free trade agreements: people in developing countries. By a 58% to 12% margin, Americans say free trade is good for the people of developing countries. Opinion on this last question has changed little since December 2006. Read More
Trading Away U.S. Jobs
Russell Heimlich is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.