71% of Canadians back Carney's decision to reject U.S. trade terms

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published August 28, 2026

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A new national poll finds that 71% of Canadians support Prime Minister Mark Carney's government's decision to suspend trade negotiations with the United States rather than accept the terms offered by the Trump administration, even if the decision means higher tariffs and greater economic uncertainty. Only 17% believe Ottawa should have accepted the U.S. terms, while 12% are unsure.

The Abacus Data survey was conducted online from August 21 to 26 among 2,022 Canadian adults. It followed Carney's decision on August 21 to bring Canadian negotiators back from Washington after last minute changes to the U.S. position. The following day, 50% U.S. tariffs took effect on roughly $28 billion worth of Canadian goods.

Support for the government's decision extends across every region. Quebec recorded the strongest backing at 79%, followed by Ontario at 70%, British Columbia at 68%, Atlantic Canada and Saskatchewan and Manitoba at 66%, and Alberta at 61%.

The decision also received support across party lines. Among those who voted Liberal in 2025, 87% backed the move, compared with 82% of Bloc Québécois voters and 78% of NDP voters. Notably, 54% of Conservative voters also said suspending the talks was the right decision, while 31% believed Canada should have accepted the American terms.

Overall, 60% of Canadians approve of the way Carney and the federal government have handled the U.S. trade negotiations, while 18% disapprove. Approval was highest in Quebec at 63%, followed by Ontario and British Columbia at 61% each.

Despite the support for Carney's position, Canadians remain uncertain about what comes next. Only 15% expect a quick agreement removing most new tariffs, while 32% believe the dispute will drag on before an agreement is eventually reached. Another 22% expect further escalation, and 18% believe the dispute could become a lasting feature of Canada U.S. relations.