Trump’s Tariffs Drive Canadian Sentiment Toward US to Historic Low
Canadian attitudes toward the US have plummeted to historic lows following the implementation of tariffs on Canadian goods, with a majority of Canadians now supporting retaliatory measures, according to a new Angus Reid Institute poll released Tuesday.
The survey of 2,005 Canadian adults found that 55% feel angry about US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and annexation rhetoric, while 37% report feeling betrayed and 29% anxious.
Only 24% of Canadians now hold a favorable view of the US, down dramatically from 40% in November 2024 and far below historical levels that reached as high as 72% in previous tracking. This places the US behind the United Kingdom (82%), Mexico (75%), and India (30%) in terms of favorability among Canadians.
“These ongoing tensions have pushed Canadian views of Trump and his country to historic lows,” said the Angus Reid Institute in its report. “Three-quarters of Canadians (73%) say they view the US unfavorably, while one-quarter (24%) say the opposite.”
The deterioration in relations has prompted a significant shift in how Canadians believe their government should approach their southern neighbor. Half of respondents (51%) now view the US as either a threat to national interests (38%) or an outright enemy (13%) – a dramatic increase from just 15% who held such views in November.
In response to the tariffs, support for retaliatory measures has grown substantially since January. Two-thirds of Canadians (66%) support imposing a 25% tariff on all US exports to Canada, up from 60% in January. Even more (70%) favor targeted tariffs on key US exports like steel, ceramics, and Florida orange juice.
“In the meantime, Canadians are fully willing to become engaged in the conflict,” notes the report. “Canada is expected to respond with retaliatory tariffs on a range of goods, but is stopping short of a tit-for-tat 25 per cent tariff on all American imports.”
The survey also found broad support (65%) for an embargo on critical Canadian exports to the US, and 65% would back Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s suggestion to cut electricity supplies to the US in response to tariffs.
When asked what “winning” would look like in the current trade dispute, 61% of Canadians said the only satisfactory outcome would be Trump backing down entirely, while just 4% would consider reduced tariffs a success.
The findings reflect what the report describes as “palpable Canadian anger,” with traditional perceptions of Americans and Canadians as friendly neighbors giving way to mutual suspicion. The survey notes that Canadians have booed the American national anthem at hockey and basketball games, and at WWE events.
The Angus Reid Institute conducted the online survey from Feb. 27 to March 3, 2025. The poll carries a margin of error of +/- 2.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
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