A recent Leger survey reveals that a majority of Americans trust Canada more than the Trump administration to negotiate trade deals in good faith. According to the poll, 57 percent of Americans believe Canada is reliable in trade talks, while only 42 percent have the same level of trust in the U.S. government.
The findings come amid heightened tensions between the two nations, driven by President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policies and fiery rhetoric. Canadian affection for the United States has declined sharply, leading to fewer cross-border trips and a strong Buy Canadian campaign as anti-American sentiment intensifies.
Trust Gap Reflects Partisanship and Unpredictability
Andrew Enns, executive vice-president of Leger's Central Canada operations, attributes the trust gap to a combination of factors. “You have to look at the hyper-partisanship in the U.S.,” Enns said. “There’s probably 20 percent of Democratic voters who wouldn’t trust Donald Trump on any question, so he starts at a bit of a handicap.” He added that some of the president’s moves have been unpredictable, which is eroding trust in the administration.
Andrew Hale, a fellow at Washington-based Advancing American Freedom, argues that the survey results are a judgment on Trump. “People are fatigued by Trump’s tariff policies,” Hale said. “Businesses want to be able to make business plans. Banks want to be able to have long-term investment plans.” However, he cautioned that the numbers do not mean Canada has suddenly won a great deal of goodwill.
Implications for Upcoming Trade Talks
The survey comes as Canada and the United States prepare to renegotiate the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) this summer. Some analysts question whether the trust gap could give Ottawa leverage in the talks. Eric Miller, president of Rideau Potomac Strategy Group, a trade consultancy, doubts it will have much effect. “American trade policy today is about one person, and that’s Donald Trump,” Miller said. “If Democrats trust Canada more than the U.S., the White House will view that as the problem being with their fellow Americans rather than as a pressure point for shaping their conduct in negotiations.”
Miller also noted that other recent research shows Americans’ favorable views of Canada have dropped to a new low. “There is a meaningful segment of the electorate that now is effectively skeptical of Canada, and that’s not something that Canada has dealt with before,” he added.
The Leger survey underscores the deep partisan divide in the United States and the unpredictability of Trump’s trade policies, which continue to strain the historically strong U.S.-Canada relationship.
