88% of voters want U.S. companies treated fairly in foreign markets

(The Center Square) – A new poll found that most voters want the federal government to defend domestic companies from unfair treatment in foreign markets.

The poll said 88% of voters want American allies to give U.S. companies the same market access the United States gives companies from allied countries.

Another 78% said they would be more likely to support a policymaker who works to ensure fair treatment for U.S. companies abroad. That includes 72% of Democrats and 87% of Republicans.

Penta Group conducted the online poll from Aug. 3 to Aug. 17 for the US-Asia Fair Market Alliance. The alliance supports fair trade practices and equal access to foreign markets.

The poll found 83% of voters think the federal government should work toward fair treatment for American companies in international markets.

Another 78% said the United States should respond when foreign governments apply different standards to American companies than their own companies.

Meanwhile, about 76% said America should respond just as firmly when the country involved is an ally.

When asked more specifically about government action, 65% wanted a federal response to unequal treatment. That includes 54% of Democrats and 78% of Republicans. Just 12% opposed government action, and 16% neither supported nor opposed it.

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Trade talks and formal dispute settlements were the most popular response, with 49% of voters supporting them. Diplomatic talks received support from 48%, while 46% backed an investigation into whether the foreign government violated trade rules.

Meanwhile, 39% supported trade or economic consequences if the dispute remained unresolved.

The survey also asked voters how foreign governments currently treat American companies. About 53% said foreign governments treat them fairly, while 25% said they treat them unfairly. The rest gave a neutral answer or said they didn’t know.

About two-thirds of voters said unfair treatment abroad could hurt American exports and make it harder for American products and services to reach new markets.

The small business owners surveyed voiced similar concerns; 60% said at least some of their sales come from customers outside the United States, while 63% have considered expanding into international markets.

Additionally, 70% said unfair treatment of American companies abroad could impact their financial well-being.

“This data sends an unmistakable message to both Washington and our trading partners in Asia: Americans expect a level playing field, and they expect our government to defend it,” Matt Mowers, executive director of the US-Asia Fair Market Alliance, said in a press release. “When foreign regulators selectively target American companies with discriminatory hurdles, they aren’t just harming them — they are choking off export channels for American small businesses, threatening domestic jobs, and undermining the very foundation of rules-based trade. We cannot allow our allies to reap the benefits of open access to the U.S. market while shutting the door on American innovation and enterprise.”

The poll sampled 1,000 voters nationwide and 318 Washington, D.C., policy influencers. The voter sample also included 137 owners of small and medium-sized businesses.