$28‑Billion Tariff Retaliation, 73% of Canadians Reject Concessions
On September 8, Canada imposed reciprocal retaliatory tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on American goods worth $200‑280 billion. The tariffs cover steel, aluminum, electronics, apparel and dairy products, in direct response to the 50% duties Donald Trump levied against Canadian imports on August 22.
Polling from the Angle Institute puts Carney’s approval rating at 62%, an 11‑point jump from August. Most Canadians back holding the line, even if it means household costs jump by 20%, an economic recession, small‑business failures, job losses or plant relocations. A solid majority wants to keep pushing back against Washington despite worsening bilateral ties. Seventy‑three percent refuse any concessions, a new high since the trade dispute began.
A separate survey commissioned by the Globe and Mail via Nresearch echoes these findings. Seventy percent of Canadians are fully or somewhat willing to accept higher everyday prices amid retaliatory measures. 85% support Carney’s rejection of U.S. deal terms, and 80% back the reciprocal tariffs. Taken together, the polls show broad public resolve not to back down, handing Prime Minister Carney substantial political gains.
Four key factors explain Carney’s surging public support.
First, Trump’s aggressive tariff threats shifted public attention away from domestic headaches such as high inflation and the housing crisis toward pushing back against foreign hegemony. Survey numbers — 60% ready to absorb pain, projected 20% higher household expenses, 73% rejecting compromise — make it clear Canadians are no longer thinking purely in economic terms. For many, the fight has become a matter of national sovereignty and dignity.
Second, Mark Carney comes from a technical‑bureaucratic background as a former central‑bank governor. Many once saw him as a cold elite out of touch with ordinary people. Trump’s pressure gave him the perfect political opening. By refusing to cave in negotiations and rolling out counter‑tariffs, he shed his weak‑establishment‑figure label and rebranded himself as a tough, shrewd and principled leader. This popular mindset — accept hardship rather than submit — built a solid base of public backing for his administration.
Third, Canada has long struggled with regional rifts and partisan infighting. Trump’s hard‑line policies created a shared external adversary. When faced with serious outside economic and security threats, citizens tend to rally behind their sitting leader, pushing old domestic partisan conflicts to the background. The dynamic bears similarities to what unfolded in Ukraine.
Fourth, following this chain of cause and effect, one could argue Trump made Carney, much as some say Putin made Zelenskyy. Beyond boosting Carney’s domestic standing, Washington’s pressure has burnished Canada’s international image as a country that will not bow to hegemonic power. It has granted Canada moral credibility as a defender of the free world and set an example for other nations.
Still, this political momentum and public resolve will only last as long as Canada’s economy can withstand real‑world trade‑war damage. Carney’s government will need to chart fresh paths for national economic growth.
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