Most Canadians oppose concessions in Canada-U.S. trade negotiations: poll

OTTAWA – With a new round of punishing new tariffs on Canada about to drop, a new Leger poll suggests Canadians want the federal government to be tougher in trade negotiations with the United States.

The poll says 56 per cent of the respondents wanted the government to take a hard line and make no more concessions, compared with almost one-third who said Canada should be flexible and be open to concessions.

People from Quebec, at 61 per cent, and women, at 60 per cent, were among the respondents most likely to support a hard-line approach in trade negotiations with the U.S.

Albertans, at 46 per cent, were the least likely to encourage that approach.

The poll surveyed 1,622 Canadians online between Aug. 15 and 17. The polling industry’s professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat on $28 billion worth of Canadian goods is set to take effect just after midnight. 

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and the country’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, have been in Washington since last week trying to broker a deal to prevent that from happening. 

The Leger poll suggests 38 per cent of Canadians believe the government’s approach to the trade talks is passive, while 30 per cent consider it balanced. Only 15 per cent said the government has been aggressive in standing up to the U.S.

It also suggests there is broad support for stronger retaliatory trade measures against the U.S.

Three in four respondents supported the idea of a special tax on electricity sold to the United States. Almost as many — 70 per cent — supported a special tax on all oil and natural gas exports to the United States and 63 per cent want a tax on potash exports.

Using the U.S. reliance on Canadian energy and reliance as leverage has been a point of contention in Canada, with Ontario Premier Doug Ford repeatedly encouraging restrictions on oil and potash exports, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe soundly rejecting the idea.

Still, the poll suggests 58 per cent of Albertans surveyed backed an export tax on oil and gas to the U.S., and 58 per cent of Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents supported an export tax on potash.

The U.S. has thus far avoided tariffing Canadian crude oil exports and potash, while the auto industry, a major player in Ontario, has been sharply hit.

The poll shows 64 per cent of respondents support banning the sale of all U.S. liquor in Canada — something eight provinces currently do in retaliation for tariffs imposed in 2025. That ban is among the reasons cited by Trump for imposing the new round of 50 per cent tariffs on everything from ice skates and hockey sticks to essential oils and honey.

Andrew Enns, Leger’s executive vice-president for Central Canada, said Canadians’ desire for an aggressive approach presents a bit of a challenge for the government because it also needs to get a deal done.

“You see a little bit of the challenge, I think, for Mr. Carney and the government in terms of finding themselves a little at odds with the Canadian public as they try to conclude a deal with the Americans,” he said.

When asked about possible concessions that could be made as part of trade talks, the poll suggests Canadians are not overly receptive to any of them.

It shows 46 per cent of Canadians supported the idea of opening passenger air travel to U.S. airlines, while 38 per cent support greater U.S. telecom access. The poll suggests 26 per cent of people support reducing supply management of the dairy sector, which is another trade irritant for the U.S.

One-quarter of respondents support greater U.S. access to Canadian banking and one-third say Canada should resume all purchases of U.S. booze.

“It will put the government in probably a little bit of an initial tough spot as they sell the benefits of a potential agreement over the cost of maybe some of these concessions,” said Enns. 

The latest trade negotiations are happening as the future of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade is on the table. The Trump administration in July did not extend the trilateral trade pact, a move which triggered an annual rolling review of CUSMA for up to a decade.

After that point the deal would expire unless all three countries agree to an extension.

Mexico and Washington have been engaged in official CUSMA negotiations, but Ottawa and the Trump administration have not launched such talks.

If a new trade deal between Canada and the United States is reached, 47 per cent of respondents said there should be a general federal election to allow Canadians an opportunity to voice their opinion about the deal. Another 35 per cent said no to that idea, while 18 per cent said they didn’t know. 

Conservative voters were the most likely to support an election, at 67 per cent, compared to 45 per cent of NDP voters and 34 per cent of Liberal voters.

The poll also asked respondents whether they think the Canadian government should formally request U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra be recalled and a new ambassador appointed.

The Leger poll suggests 43 per cent of Canadians want Hoekstra to be replaced, while 19 per cent said no and 38 per cent said they didn’t know.

More than 220,000 Canadians have signed a petition calling for U.S. President Donald Trump’s representative in Ottawa to be kicked out of the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2026. 

-With files from Sarah Ritchie