Canadian Sentiment Toward the U.S. Hits Historic Low, Pew Survey Shows
Canada’s view of the United States has taken a sharp downturn, dropping to its lowest level in years and now aligning with opinions about China, according to a new global poll by the Pew Research Center.
Only 34% of Canadians now hold a favourable view of the U.S.—a 20-point drop from the previous year—while the same percentage view China positively, marking a 13-point increase. For the first time in recent memory, Canadians see no clear difference between the world’s top two economies.
Tariffs, Taunts, and Trade: What’s Fueling the Shift?
The decline in U.S. favourability comes after months of economic tension, as former U.S. President Donald Trump continues to disrupt global trade norms. Canada has been caught in the crossfire, with tariffs aimed at aluminum, steel, autos, and even duties tied to fentanyl trafficking.
Although some of those tariffs were later rolled back for goods under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the damage to public sentiment appears lasting. Trump’s comments about Canada—referring to former PM Justin Trudeau as a “governor” and suggesting Canada should be a U.S. state—only added fuel to the fire.
Global Views on China Improving Amid U.S. Uncertainty
While U.S. favourability declined in Canada and beyond, China has seen a notable rise in global opinion. In more than half of the 25 countries surveyed, including Mexico and Canada, public opinion of Chinese President Xi Jinping rose.
“This is the first real uptick in favourable views of China across the board,” said Laura Silver, associate director at Pew. Interestingly, 26% of all respondents expressed confidence in Xi, compared to 22% for Trump—underscoring a significant shift in perception.
Canada’s Economic Loyalty Is Also Evolving
Canadians are also rethinking who they trust as an economic partner. While the U.S. still holds a majority, the share of Canadians who believe strong economic ties with the U.S. are more important than ties with China has fallen to 67%—down from 87% in 2019.
This sentiment isn’t unique to Canada. In Mexico, 45% now say economic ties with China matter more than with the U.S., up from just 15% a decade ago.
History of Strained Ties: From Huawei to the ‘Two Michaels’
Canada’s relationship with China hit a low in 2018 when Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s CFO, was detained in Vancouver at the U.S.’s request. In retaliation, Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were arrested in China—further complicating diplomatic dynamics.
Despite that turbulent period, the recent polling shows a rebound in how Canadians view China, possibly driven by Trump’s trade tactics and the global shift in alliances.
A Global Survey With Clear Signals
The Pew Research Center’s 2025 survey gathered insights from more than 28,000 adults across 24 countries, offering a broad snapshot of changing international attitudes.
Laura Silver summed it up: “There’s no longer daylight between how Canadians view the U.S. and China. That’s a significant change.”
Stay tuned to Maple Wire for more insight into Canada’s evolving global role and foreign policy trends.
