Angry, betrayed and anxious: Canadians react to Trump's tariffs and annexation threat

Karin Larsen · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 04, 2025 5:02 PM EST | Last Updated: March 4

A caller survey gauging the affectional somesthesia of Canadians confirms what astir connected this broadside of the borderline already know:  U.S. President Donald Trump's annexation and tariff threats are making radical mad. 

Fifty-five per cent accidental they are feeling anger, followed by 37 per cent who accidental they consciousness betrayed, according to the Angus Reid Institute poll. Twenty-nine per cent of respondents accidental the threats person made them anxious.

The online poll surveyed 2,005 Canadian respondents betwixt Feb. 27 and Mar. 3 — earlier tariffs of Canadian goods entering the U.S. came into unit and earlier Canadian leaders announced a suite of retaliatory measures.

According to the survey, lone 17 per cent of Canadians clasp a favourable presumption of Trump, compared to 79 per cent who consciousness the opposite.

Trump's peculiar authorities advisor Elon Musk clocked successful with a akin 79 per cent disapproval rating. Seventy-one per cent of respondents said they enactment a moratorium connected the Canadian income of Teslas made by Musk's automotive company. 

The canvass recovered that Canadians' enactment for retaliation against the U.S. has been increasing since January.

Majority enactment was recovered for 3 circumstantial argumentation responses: a broad 25 per cent tariff connected U.S. goods entering Canada (65% support), targeted tariffs connected cardinal U.S. Imports (70%), and a prohibition connected captious Canadian exports to the U.S. (65%).

Compared to different nations, the U.S. favourability standing of 24 per cent was lone 4 points higher than China's (20%) and good down Mexico (75%) and the United Kingdom (82%).

According to the Angus Reid Institute, enactment among the American nationalist for tariffs, particularly if it means higher state prices, is low.

The pollster said portion fractional of Americans see Canada "a valued spouse and ally," lone 15 per cent of Canadians consciousness the aforesaid astir their confederate neighbours.

On Tuesday, Trump ordered 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs connected imports from Canada and Mexico.The lone objection is Canadian energy, wherever the tariff complaint has been acceptable astatine 10 per cent. 

At a quality league successful Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is instantly introducing 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs connected $30 cardinal worthy of American products that volition grow to screen different $125 cardinal successful U.S. goods successful 21 days. 

British Columbia Premier David Eby said Canada is compelled to respond to U.S. tariffs successful a mode that is "noticeable and important for American families," earlier announcing the state is pulling liquor from Republican states disconnected B.C. store shelves.

In summation to implementing tariffs, Trump has mused astir annexing Canada and has repeatedly referred to the sovereign federation to his northbound arsenic the "51st state."

Eby said Canada volition ne'er beryllium the 51st authorities and is encouraging B.C. residents to bargain home products and debar question to the United States.

According to the Angus Reid Institute, the survey has a borderline of mistake of positive oregon minus 2 percent points, 19 times retired of 20.