---
title: "Americans favor TPP, but less than those in other countries do"
description: "While Americans favor the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), they are among the least likely to support it in the nine TPP nations surveyed. "
date: "2015-06-23"
authors:
  - name: "Jacob Poushter"
    job_title: "Associate Director, Global Attitudes Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/jacob-poushter/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2015/06/23/americans-favor-tpp-but-less-than-other-countries-do/"
categories:
  - "Economic Policy"
  - "Global Economy & Trade"
  - "Global Trade"
  - "International Affairs"
  - "Organizations, Alliances & Treaties"
---

# Americans favor TPP, but less than those in other countries do

[![General Support for TPP](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2015/06/FT_15.06.23_TPP_GeneralSupport.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/06/23/3-asia-in-focus/#tpp-americans-among-the-least-supportive)

As Congress comes to a decision on whether to give President Barack Obama [broad negotiating powers](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/24/us/politics/senate-vote-on-trade-bill.html?_r=0) on trade, our [new Pew Research Center report](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/06/23/global-publics-back-u-s-on-fighting-isis-but-are-critical-of-post-911-torture) shows that while Americans favor the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), they are among the least likely to support it in the nine TPP nations surveyed. And, as with many issues in the U.S., there is a partisan divide on support for TPP.

Overall, 49% of Americans say that TPP would be a good thing for their country, while 29% think it would be a bad thing. When the survey was administered in April and May, the debate over [giving Obama fast-track authority](http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/242914-how-the-senate-got-60-votes-for-obama-on-fast-track) — which would enhance his ability to negotiate TPP without fear of it being modified by Congress — had not yet gained the full attention of Americans. Consequently, 12% volunteered that they had not heard enough about TPP to make a judgment, and a further 9% did not answer the question. In general, [Americans see free trade agreements as good for the country](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2015/05/27/free-trade-agreements-seen-as-good-for-u-s-but-concerns-persist/).

However, support for this free trade agreement is much more robust in most other TPP nations surveyed. This includes two-thirds or more of Vietnamese (89% good thing), Peruvians (70%) and Chileans (67%). And at least half or more in Mexico (61%), Japan (53%), Australia (52%) and Canada (52%) also support the deal. In Malaysia, only 38% support the agreement, but that is due in part to 31% volunteering that they have not heard enough.

[![U.S. Attitudes Toward TPP](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2015/06/FT_15.06.23_TPP_US-Attitudes.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2015/06/23/americans-favor-tpp-but-less-than-other-countries-do/ft_15-06-23_tpp_us-attitudes/)

Within the U.S., there are partisan differences on support for TPP. Democrats (51%) are slightly more willing to support the trade negotiations compared with Republicans (43%), while half of independents show their support.

There is also an age gap. Younger Americans are much more likely to support the partnership (65% good thing) compared with older Americans (41%).

Additionally, there are differences by gender on support for TPP, with men more likely to support Obama’s ambitious trade agenda. However, there are no significant differences on this question among lower- and higher-income Americans and between higher- and lower-educated people.