Most Canadians now favor a reciprocal response to the United States’ threatened tariffs on Canadian goods, according to a recent poll.
The United States plans to impose tariffs of up to 50 percent on a range of Canadian imports under a century‑old trade law, with the measures set to take effect on August 19 unless a new agreement is reached.
Confidence in the Canadian government’s ability to negotiate a deal has slipped, with only 43 percent of respondents believing the prime minister can secure an arrangement, down from 51 percent three months earlier.
Public distrust extends to the American administration; just 13 percent of Canadians think the United States will honor any future agreement, while a large majority remain skeptical.
The backdrop to the trade tension includes a dispute over toll revenues from the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a crossing fully funded by Canadian taxpayers.
Initially, Canada was to retain 100 percent of bridge toll revenues until construction debts were cleared, but a revised deal now requires Canada to transfer half of the net revenues to a U.S.-controlled development fund, contradicting earlier statements by the prime minister.
Among those who support retaliation, 34 percent favor matching U.S. tariffs dollar‑for‑dollar, 28 percent prefer limited counter‑tariffs, and 7 percent suggest making concessions, while 12 percent have no opinion.
Views on specific concessions are mixed: 42 percent would drop tariffs on American‑built cars and trucks, 48 percent oppose resuming the sale of U.S. alcohol in provinces that banned it, and 61 percent resist eliminating Canada’s dairy supply‑management system.
Regarding dairy policy, 42 percent want to maintain the current system even if the United States retaliates, 28 percent see opening the market as a bargaining tool, and 16 percent advocate abolishing the system entirely.
The survey sampled 1,790 Canadian adults between July 23 and July 25, with an estimated margin of error of roughly ±2 percent for a typical online poll.
