WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - More citizens of the United States, France and Russia have concerns about trade than their counterparts in China and South Korea, a new survey of global attitudes released on Thursday showed. The poll, conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and WorldPublicOpinion.org with the cooperation of other polling agencies, surveyed attitudes on trade and globalization in 17 countries and the Palestinian territories, which together represent 56 percent of the world's population. It found majorities around the world believed globalization and trade were good for national economies, companies and consumers. But the degree of enthusiasm varied considerably from country to country. Sixty percent of those surveyed in the United States, 51 percent in France and 41 percent in Russia thought globalization -- especially increasing economic ties with the rest of the world -- was "mostly good" for their country. In contrast, 87 percent of those surveyed in China and 86 percent in South Korea said globalization was mostly good. When asked more narrowly if trade was good for their country, 54 percent of Americans agreed with that statement compared to 88 percent of Chinese. That may reflect the lopsided trade relationship between the two countries. Last year, the United States ran a record $232.5 billion trade deficit with China, which many U.S. lawmakers accuse of violating global trade rules. Seventy-three percent of Chinese respondents believed trade helped create jobs in their country, while just 37 percent of Americans and 26 percent of French held that view. More agreed trade was good for consumers. Seventy percent of Americans, 69 percent of Chinese, 68 percent of South Koreans and 61 percent of French said they believed that. The survey comes as countries are struggling to finish the Doha round of world trade talks after more than five years of negotiations. India is often portrayed as one of the biggest obstacles to a deal because of its reluctance to open its agricultural and industrial markets to more imports. However, only 54 percent of Indians surveyed said protecting jobs should be a "very important" goal of foreign policy, compared to 83 percent in Australia, 76 percent in the United States and 71 percent in China. Sixty-six percent of French respondents said trade was bad for the environment, compared to 49 percent of Americans and South Koreans, 44 percent of Russians, 34 percent of Indians and 29 percent of Chinese. However, there was generally strong agreement in both developed and developing countries that trade pacts should be required to uphold minimum standards to protect the environment and conditions for workers. That is a hot topic in the U.S. Congress, with Democrats pushing the Bush administration for language to strengthen labor and environmental provisions of U.S. trade pacts.
