Trade is also about imports and the effect on American jobs.
Nothing backs up your point like the collective voice of the American electorate. And there’s a bunch of new polls this week on what Americans think when it comes to international trade agreements.
American see trade or trade agreements as a good thing generally, according to new polls by Pew Research Center and Reuters (Ipsos). Pew found that 58 percent of adults say free trade agreements with other countries have been a good thing for the U.S., while 33 percent say they have been a bad thing. Additionally, 56 percent of Americans support new trade deals to promote the sale of U.S. goods overseas, with just 13 percent opposed, according to the Reuters (Ipsos) poll.
We agree. Trade is a good thing and American businesses and workers can benefit from expanded exports.
But that’s only half the story – trade is also about imports and their effect on jobs, and Americans agree. Trade agreements continue to be seen as doing more to cost jobs than create them, according to Pew. In addition, voters think that free trade agreements “make the wages of American workers lower.”
"In the new survey, 46% say free trade agreements lead to job losses in the United States; just 17% say they create jobs in this country. That is only somewhat more positive than five years ago, when 55% said trade deals cost jobs and 8% said they create jobs." Pew Research Center
We know that U.S. companies and American workers can outcompete anyone if the playing field is level, but when unfair foreign trade occurs our trade remedy laws are necessary to ensure that free market principles are upheld.
That’s why new trade agreements must include provisions to prevent currency manipulation – the leading cause of jobs lost due to trade. And nine in 10 Americans say that it’s important to have measures to prevent currency manipulation, according to Ipsos.
It’s up to the House of Representatives to make sure trade enforcement and currency manipulation are addressed in trade promotion authority.