China is showing "solid consumer confidence" in U.S.-made goods and popular culture, according to a survey by market researcher TNS. The Chinese were questioned about their views on a number of American products and trade issues. More than half viewed the U.S. as "the clear economic powerhouse, world leader and influential country," TNS said. In fact, the U.S. was second only to Germany as a source of "excellent quality products," garnering the vote of 33 percent of respondents, while China itself won only 15 percent. U.S.-made technology products ranked first in the survey, at 46 percent, as did healthcare products at 30 percent. American automobiles, at 34 percent, took second place in the quality survey, after Germany's 56 percent. (In what might prove a blow to the American ego, only 17 percent of Chinese women consider American men as handsome, while only 16 percent of Chinese men consider American women as beautiful.) Said Larry Levin, president of client services for TNS North America: "The Chinese view American products in very high regard on the commercial front, revealing a tremendous opportunity for companies looking to export goods or increase the amount of exporting they do to China."
