Canadians Back Carney's Tougher Trade Stance as U.S. Tensions Deepen

Canadians are largely backing Prime Minister Mark Carney's more assertive approach to the United States, even as concerns grow that a prolonged trade conflict could raise expenses for households and businesses.

A Nanos Research poll conducted for The Globe and Mail found that 85% of 1,037 respondents supported or somewhat supported Carney's decision to turn down a proposed trade agreement with the U.S., while 80% backed Ottawa's plan to impose matching countertariffs on a broad range of American products starting Tuesday.

The findings suggest Canadians are still willing to absorb some economic discomfort to bolster Ottawa's negotiating position as relations with Washington worsen, the report said. Roughly seven in ten respondents said they were willing or somewhat willing to pay higher prices for everyday goods as part of Canada's response to U.S. tariffs.

That support arrives even as evidence mounts that the trade dispute is already eroding public confidence. About two-thirds of Canadians said they were worried or somewhat worried about the tariff impact on themselves and their families, while six in ten said they were confident or somewhat confident that Canada could protect its economic interests under a new agreement with the U.S.

Trade talks collapsed last month after Carney instructed Canadian officials to withdraw, saying U.S. demands had become unreasonable. The dispute touched on issues that included French-language protections and tariffs on trucks.

Canadian opinions of the U.S. have also soured significantly. Three-quarters of respondents disagreed to some degree that the U.S. was a trustworthy ally, although more than three in five expected bilateral relations to improve or somewhat improve over the next five years.