62% of Canadians support the introduction of tariffs in response to new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a poll by Angus Reid released on Monday. The survey was conducted just before the new 50 percent U.S. tariffs took effect, which are expected to cover a wide range of Canadian goods.
The Angus Reid Institute surveyed 1,790 adult Canadians from July 23 to 25. The results show that 34% of respondents support mirror tariffs — “dollar for dollar” — while another 28% favor the introduction of limited countermeasures.
Meanwhile, 19% of those surveyed believe Ottawa should focus on negotiations with the U.S. without implementing retaliatory tariffs. Another 7% think Canada should concede to Washington’s demands to avoid a trade conflict, while 12% remain undecided.
Trust in Mark Carney is declining
The poll also indicated a decline in trust in Prime Minister Mark Carney regarding trade negotiations with the U.S. Only 43% of Canadians believe he is capable of negotiating a deal that benefits the country, down from 51% in April.
Half of those surveyed (50%) lack confidence in the success of the negotiations. Among them, 26% attribute this to the ineffective performance of Carney’s government, while 24% cite the unpredictable policies of the Trump administration as a contributing factor.
Disputes over the dairy industry and alcohol
Canadians are also divided on the supply management system in the dairy industry, which the U.S. criticizes as a trade barrier. 42% of respondents believe the government should maintain the current system, while 44% are open to using it as a bargaining chip. Additionally, 61% oppose expanding access for American dairy products to the Canadian market.
Another 48% of those surveyed said that American alcohol should not be returned to Canadian store shelves after being removed by provinces in response to U.S. trade measures.
The trade dispute is also influencing Canadians’ attitudes toward the United States. A previous Ipsos poll for Global News found that about 72% of Canadians tried to avoid U.S.-made products, and approximately three-quarters planned to refrain from traveling to the U.S. Furthermore, 77% of respondents reported that trade pressure from the Trump administration had negatively affected their views of the U.S.
Source: Global News
