A new poll by the Wall Street Journal shows an increase in free trade support in the United States. The growing support comes despite anti-trade sentiments by President Donald Trump and his removal of the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, along with intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The poll last week found that 43 percent of Americans surveyed thought positively of free trade between the U.S. and foreign countries, while 34 percent of respondents thought free trade hurt the country. The results represent a sharp reversal from a similar poll from March of last year. That poll found just 27 percent of Americans favored free trade, and 43 percent said free trade harmed the nation. Increasingly positive views of the net benefits of trade came mainly from Democrats, as 57 percent of them said free trade helped more than hurt, up from 34 percent in 2016.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.