Poll finds strong Canadian backing for halting U.S. trade talks
Xinhua · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A new Angus Reid Institute poll found broad support across Canada for the federal government’s decision to halt trade negotiations with the United States, after Washington threatened fresh tariffs on Canadian goods. The survey also showed backing for Ottawa’s plan to answer with matching retaliatory tariffs, while highlighting concern about jobs and the wider economy.
Key Points
- The Aug. 22-23 poll found 76 percent of respondents supported ending the U.S. trade talks, with majority backing in every province.
- Among supporters of the opposition Conservative Party, 53 percent said walking away was the right choice rather than accepting a bad deal.
- Ottawa plans dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs from Sept. 8, and 62 percent of Canadians said that response was appropriate under current circumstances.
- Prime Minister Carney said Canada paused negotiations after new U.S. tariff threats and recalled negotiators to Ottawa on Friday
- Carney said the United States planned a 50 percent tariff from midnight on 20 billion U.S. dollars of Canadian goods, prompting Canada’s response
Why It Matters
The poll suggests Ottawa has political room to maintain a tougher line in the dispute, even if talks remain frozen and tariffs escalate. For Hong Kong readers and businesses, a prolonged Canada-U.S. trade clash could add another layer of uncertainty to North American supply chains, especially if weaker growth and job losses materialize in Canada.