GOOD economic times in the United States have bumped up the popularity of global trade in the last four years, with more Americans saying it creates jobs, boosts pay and lowers prices, according to a survey out Wednesday.

The poll of attitudes in 27 nations also showed improving views of international trade in economies such as France, Poland, Japan and India, according to the Pew Research Center.

In the world’s advanced economies only slim minorities believe trade will make them wealthier by driving up pay, creating jobs or lowering wages, the survey found. Bruce Stokes, Pew Research’s director of global economic attitudes, said trade’s improving popularity coincided with the decade’s economic recovery.

“What all of us kind of presume is that if you feel good about the economy, you feel good about a lot of things,” he said.

The improving attitudes towards global trade come despite a nationalist political wave on both sides of the Atlantic, with the US pursuing trade battles with all major economies and Britain voting to exit the European Union.https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/poll-popularity-global-trade-improving