[mgj-discuss] Free trade loses backers

[Chuck0]

Poll: Free trade loses backers

By Peronet Despeignes, USA TODAY

High-income Americans have lost much of their enthusiasm for free trade 
as they perceive their own jobs threatened by white-collar workers in 
China, India and other countries, according to data from a survey of 
views on trade. (Related item: Read the entire study)

The survey by the University of Maryland's Program on International 
Policy Attitudes is one of the most comprehensive U.S. polls on trade 
issues. It found that support for free trade fell in most income groups 
from 1999 to 2004, but dropped most rapidly among high-income 
respondents — the very group that registered the strongest support for 
free trade in the past. "Free trade" means the removal of barriers such 
as tariffs that restrict international trade. (Related story: Income 
confers no immunity as jobs migrate)

The PIPA poll shows that among Americans making more than $100,000 a 
year, support for actively promoting more free trade collapsed from 57% 
to less than half that, 28%. There were smaller drops, averaging less 
than 7 percentage points, in income brackets below $70,000, where 
support for free trade was already weaker.

The same poll found the share of Americans making more than $100,000 who 
want the push toward free trade slowed down or stopped altogether nearly 
doubled from 17% to 33%.

Rising anxiety about free trade could intensify an already fierce 
political battle this election year.

In the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. John 
Edwards, D-N.C., has gained some ground on front-runner Sen. John Kerry, 
D-Mass., by hitting Kerry's support for free-trade agreements that 
critics say have cost American jobs. The Democratic nominee is expected 
to use the trade issue against President Bush, whose administration has 
generally been supportive of free trade.

The PIPA 2004 poll was released last month, but breakdowns by income 
level were performed at the request of USA TODAY. The results are based 
on responses from more than 1,800 U.S. residents with a margin of error 
of +/ —— 2.3-4 percentage points.

The findings suggest that anxieties about free trade long held by 
lower-income Americans and blue-collar workers — who have been losing 
jobs to cheaper labor markets abroad — have spread up the income ladder.

The findings come as the U.S. job market remains sluggish and 
accounting, computer programming, radiology and other high-end service 
jobs are being lost to workers abroad.

"This is huge," says Steven Kull, director of the Maryland polling unit. 
"What's most dramatic is what's happened to support among those making 
more than $70,000 a year. ... These include those who've most avidly 
supported trade and globalization, who've taken the lead in pushing the 
free-trade agenda forward."

Kull said the PIPA poll shows most Americans remain supportive, or at 
least tolerant, of free trade, but with big caveats. "They're not 
saying, 'put on the brakes,' " he said. "But they are saying, 'Don't 
step on the gas. Don't rush. We need to make adjustments. We need more 
time to adapt to these changes.' "

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-02-23-free-trade_x.htm