Most Canadians oppose concessions as response to looming 50% U.S. tariffs: poll

Canada is just days away from 50 per cent tariffs taking effect on hundreds of exports, after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month invoking the never-before-used Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.

And Canadians are divided on what Ottawa’s response should be, with 36 per cent of respondents in an Abacus Data poll favouring counter-tariffs, even if they raise prices and risk escalation, compared to 30 per cent who want continued negotiations instead.

Meanwhile, just 18 per cent favour offering concessions to the United States, such as easing dairy restrictions or ending bans on American alcohol, even if doing so gets the tariffs removed.

Abacus Data notes that these responses suggest the public “want the government to be firm, avoid escalation where possible, and get an agreement without appearing to give too much away.”

However, this point sees some differences across regions and political affiliation, with just 12 per cent of Quebecers open to concessions, compared to 23 per cent in Alberta. Only 16 per cent of Liberal supporters and 14 per cent of NDP supporters favour concessions, compared with 26 per cent of Conservatives.

The survey examined Canadians’ awareness of ongoing tariff negotiations with the U.S. and found that Canucks are paying close attention to the dispute, with 91 per cent of respondents saying they have seen, read or heard at least a little about the threatened 50 per cent tariffs.

Elsewhere, 55 per cent say Canada should prepare to move on from CUSMA and build trade relationships with other countries, compared with 34 per cent who want to keep working to preserve the agreement. That view is shared by 60 per cent of Liberal voters, compared to just 43 per cent of Conservative supporters who are prepared to move on.

Abacus Data says that this apparent openness to a future where Canada is less dependent on CUSMA gives Carney room to resist U.S. pressure.

National Post previously spoke to trade analysts about what Canada’s response to the 50 per cent tariffs should be and, much like the Canadian public, they were split on the best approach.

Lawrence Herman, senior fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute and a specialist in international trade and investment law, said he thinks a list of possible tariff countermeasures should have been produced immediately after Trump’s announcement last month.

“You maintain those tariffs and enact them on the 19th of August, here’s the list that we’re going to use for our counter-tariffs,” he offered as an example of how Ottawa should have responded to the threat.

However, Ed Fast, Canada’s former minister for international trade under PM Stephen Harper, cautioned against retaliation, urging negotiators to keep the economic asymmetry between the two countries front of mind.

“If we retaliate with tariffs, as some have suggested, the Americans are much better able to absorb that retaliation than we are to absorb their tariffs against us,” he said. “As more and more tariffs get levied, the more difficult it becomes for Canada.”