Business Survey Rates America as ‘Unfair Player’

The United States, perhaps the most vocal champion of free trade, does not have that image in foreign countries.

A survey of 1,800 business leaders in 34 countries published Tuesday ranked the United States third among the world’s most “unfair players” in international markets.

The survey was conducted by the International Institute for Management Development, a Lausanne, Switzerland-based business school, and the World Economic Forum, which runs an annual businessmen’s meeting in Davos.

Japan was perceived by 52.19% of those polled as the most unfair player, followed by South Korea at 8.86% and the United States at 8%.

The only European country to fall into the unfair player category was France at 4.86%, which ranked fifth. It received almost as many votes as Taiwan, with 6.57%.

Brazil, with a reputation for aggressive export policy, placed sixth with 4%, the survey showed.

Japan, despite being identified as the No. 1 unfair player, was not universally vilified by the survey.

In ranking the three countries which are the best at turning innovations into competitive products, those polled lauded the record of Japan by an even greater margin, winning 73.99% of the vote.

The United States also redeemed itself by placing second with 10.33% while West Germany took third place with 2.66%.

South Korea and Thailand were seen as the brightest rising stars of international business, polling 34.21% and 10.02% of the vote, respectively.

Spain, the only non-Asian country to make the top of the list, was rated as the fifth brightest of the rising stars, with 6.28%.

According to the survey, the United States, Switzerland, West Germany, Britain, Japan and France, in that order, were perceived as resting on their laurels, complacent with past accomplishments.

“All are seen to be relaxing at a time when competitiveness is becoming more intense,” the survey said.