Polls conducted find broad public agreement on trade on both sides of the US-Mexico border.
Introduction
Majorities of both Mexicans and Americans agree that their economic relationship is important, are concerned about a trade war hurting their local economy, see international trade as having a positive impact on their nation’s economy, and expect the newly-signed US-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade to be good for their nation’s economy.
Key Findings
The Trump administration’s push to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, along with the imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs, has strained an already tense relationship between the United States and Mexico. Despite those tensions, polls conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Buendía y Laredo find broad public agreement on trade on both sides of the border. Majorities of both Mexicans and Americans agree that their economic relationship is important, are concerned about a trade war hurting their local economy, see international trade as having a positive impact on their nation’s economy, and expect the newly-signed US-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade to be good for their nation’s economy.
- Asked after the agreement was signed in November 2018, majorities of both Mexicans (80%) and Americans (70%) think that the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade will be good for their country’s economy.
- This level of support is even higher than the already-strong support for NAFTA. Surveyed before the new trade agreement was reached, majorities of Mexicans (78%) and Americans (63%) both say NAFTA is good for their country’s economy, marking all-time highs in both countries.
- Majorities of Mexicans and Americans say international trade is good for their nation’s economy, for creating jobs, and for consumers like them.
- Both publics are concerned that a trade war between the two countries would hurt their local economy, with more Mexicans (86%) concerned about a trade war than Americans (52%).
