Poll shows over 75% of Canadians back government ending US trade talks

A vast majority of Canadians support the federal government's decision to walk away from trade negotiations with the United States, according to a new poll.

The survey conducted on August 22-23 by the Angus Reid Institute shows that 76% of respondents endorse the federal government's stance, with majority support spanning every province.

Even among supporters of the main opposition Conservative Party, 53% agreed that walking away was "right" rather than accepting a bad deal.

Canadians also demonstrated strong backing for the government's plan to impose "dollar-for-dollar" retaliatory tariffs on September 8, with 62% calling the counter-tariff scheme "about right under the circumstances." Data show that 64% of Canadians believe the country will ultimately emerge stronger as Canada reduces its economic dependence on the United States, while 26% express concern about long-term damage to ties with its most important trading partner.

However, the survey also reveals anxiety over employment risks stemming from the trade dispute.

About 13% of Canadian workers reported being "very concerned" about losing their own job, with an additional 25% expressing varying levels of anxiety.

Industry experts previously predicted that a no-deal situation would shave 0.4% off Canada's GDP and as many as 90,000 jobs.

In a late-night statement on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Carney announced an immediate pause to trade negotiations with the United States and the recall of Canada's negotiating team.

In a nationally televised address to outline Canada's position following the breakdown of the trade talks on Saturday, Carney said that Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs against $20 billion-worth of American goods starting September 8, in retaliation for US President Donald Trump's new 50% tariffs that took effect at midnight on Saturday.

Explaining why negotiations broke down at the last minute, Carney said that while both sides were close to a mutually beneficial agreement earlier this week, the US side introduced last-minute changes that were "unfair, uneconomic and called into question the reliability of any deal." Canada said that America would "put a series of tariffs on its closest allies and use economic integration as a weapon," and that "its signature was written in pencil." Read more: Canada now 'at war,' to impose retaliatory tariffs on US steel, electronics, Carney says (With input from Xinhua)