2008 Trade Polling Results

Summary of polling on trade
From Gallup Polling

Critics of NAFTA argue that the trade agreement is responsible for devastating job losses in the United States, especially in the manufacturing industry.

A majority of American respondents (53%) told Gallup that the effect of NAFTA on the U.S. economy has been “mainly negative,” while 37% said the effect has been “mainly positive.” Working Americans are slightly more likely than unemployed Americans to say the effect of NAFTA on the U.S. economy has been “mainly negative,” 56% to 48%.

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Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll. May 1-8, 2008. N=2,208 adults nationwide. MoE ± 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 ± 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