If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

Questions - Manufacturing and Free Trade - January 24-25, 2012

45% Think Free Trade Good for U.S., 28% Disagree
Most Would Choose Foreign Over American If Product Is Better, Cheaper
55% Favor Government Subsidizing U.S. Manufacturing
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National Survey of 1,000 Adults
Conducted January 24-25, 2012

By Rasmussen Reports

1* How closely have you followed recent news stories about proposals to reestablish a major manufacturing and industrial base in the United States?

2* How important is it for the United States to have a major manufacturing and industrial base?

3* When buying a product, how important is it to buy something made in America?

4* Suppose a foreign product has better quality and a lower price. In that case, would you be more likely to buy the better product or buy American?

5* How likely is it that the United States will once again have a major manufacturing and industrial base?

6* Should government funds be used to subsidize manufacturers in this country through tax credits and other incentives?

7* Is it more important to keep manufacturing jobs in the United States or to keep prices low for American consumers?

8* Is free trade good or bad for the U.S. economy?

9* Some countries pay their workers far less than American workers are paid. Manufactured items from such countries often cost less than comparable American products. Should the federal government place tariffs on goods from countries that pay very low wages to their workers?

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence