There are good reasons for people to be confused about trade. In high-wage countries, they may feel their jobs threatened by increased imports from low-wage competitors and think trade barriers will protect them. But as consumers, individuals may want the freedom to spend whatever money they have on goods of their own choice, whether foreign or domestic.
However, lobbyists for multinational corporations and political activists in the streets are each trying to impose a single viewpoint on everyone, whether that of Davos man or Seattle woman.
To learn what ordinary people think about global trade as consumers and workers, the Ipsos-Reid Autumn 2001 Global Poll of public opinion in twenty countries on five continents asked people whether they thought protection or trade promotion was more likely to improve national economic conditions. It went on to inquire whether it was good or bad for people to be able to buy the products of multinational companies.