WASHINGTON – Recent polling conducted by Leger, Maintenant Media, and Canada 338 reveals that most Americans hold a positive view of Canada, especially regarding economic and trade relations, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing criticism of the country. The survey indicates that Americans generally trust Canada to negotiate in good faith as both nations contend with a shifting trade relationship.
Andrew Enns, Leger’s executive vice-president for Central Canada, noted that there remains an underlying goodwill towards Canada among the American public. The survey, which included a sample of 1,010 American adults conducted online from October 24 to October 26, did not have a margin of error attributed to its methodology.
Trump’s administration has significantly strained the traditionally close ties between Canada and the United States, marking a period characterized by tariffs and inflammatory remarks aimed at Canadian officials. Trump has leveled complaints about Canada and at times has made misleading comments concerning trade; he has even hinted at extreme actions including the annexation of Canada.
While Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney managed to enhance diplomatic relations during two visits to the White House, these improvements were short-lived. Tensions reignited after Ontario funded a television advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan’s criticism of tariffs, prompting Trump to suspend trade negotiations.
According to the survey, overall, 75 percent of Americans indicated they either completely or somewhat trust Canada’s intentions in trade negotiations. Among Democrats, this figure was remarkably higher at 90 percent, while Republicans demonstrated a lower, yet still significant, level of trust at 67 percent. In contrast, only 52 percent of respondents expressed trust in the Trump administration's ability to negotiate fairly, with support dropping to 32 percent among Democrats and rising to 85 percent among Republicans.
Public sentiment regarding the US-Canada economic relationship remains largely supportive. Among participants, 22 percent identified Canada as a close ally, while 36 percent regarded it as a friendly partner, and 30 percent viewed it as a neutral neighbor. Only a small fraction, 9 percent, considered Canada an unfriendly neighbor, and even fewer—just 4 percent—viewed it as an adversarial nation.
Some public reactions reflect a desire for stronger ties with Canada. Roger Anderson, a 63-year-old participant in an anti-Trump protest, expressed a wish for California to join Canada as a province. Kristen Hay, another protestor, lamented that the current administration's approach to Canada had tarnished America's international reputation.
As the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) enters mandatory review next year, discussions around trade dynamics remain critical. Analysts point out that Trump’s tariffs, which increased duties on Canadian imports to 35 percent in August, challenge the integrity of the continental trade pact established to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
While the survey highlighted a generally favorable opinion of Canada among the American populace, name recognition of Prime Minister Mark Carney was notably low; 63 percent of respondents admitted they did not know enough about him to provide an opinion. Visitors from Oklahoma, Scott and Cortney Bloxham, remarked on the absence of animosity towards Canada, reflecting a broader sentiment among Americans regarding their northern neighbor, despite the tensions introduced by the current U.S. administration.
The professional body of the polling industry in Canada, the Canadian Research Insights Council, noted that online surveys, such as this one, cannot be assigned a margin of error due to their non-random sampling methods.
