As it turns out, most Americans oppose U.S. President Donald Trump imposing tariffs on Canada, believe it will raise prices for U.S. consumers and are skeptical about his claim the U.S. is subsidizing Canada $200 billion annually on trade.
They’re also not enthusiastic about Trump’s rhetoric to annex Canada, less concerned about security at the northern border than Trump and doubt he will be effective in lowering their cost of living, his main economic promise during the presidential race.
These findings in a series of polls done in recent weeks in the U.S. indicate that while Trump is riding high, having won the popular vote and the electoral college in the election, with Republicans in control of Congress, he’s not invulnerable.
They suggest while Trump’s promises such as deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes are enormously popular, he could face a significant backlash from Americans in a lengthy trade war with Canada.
A Leger poll of 1,001 American adults conducted just before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 found only 29% supported Trump imposing a 25% tariff on goods imported from Canada, compared to 53% opposed, with 18% undecided.
Two-thirds of Americans surveyed — 67% — believe consumer prices will increase in the U.S. in a tariff war with Canada, including 57% of Republican voters.
Only 13% believe prices will decrease in the U.S. while 21% think tariffs will have no impact.
Only 22% of Americans surveyed said they believe Trump’s claim the U.S. subsidizes Canada $200 billion annually on trade while 36% don’t believe it, with 42% unsure.
An Associated Press/NORC poll found similar results to Leger, with only 29% in favour of Trump imposing tariffs on goods coming in from other countries, including Canada, and almost half — 46% —opposed.
While Trump may be joking about annexing Canada, most Americans surveyed are unimpressed, with Leger finding 55% opposed to annexing Canada to become the 51st U.S. state with only 24% in support.
Informed that polls in Canada show a large majority of Canadians don’t support annexation, 48% surveyed said that as Americans, they wouldn’t want to join with Canada either, with only 25% in support and 27% unsure.
Overall, almost two-thirds of Americans surveyed — 64% — think Trump’s talk about annexing foreign territories in general is a bad idea compared to only 36% who approve.
The poll also found three-quarters of Americans (76%) surveyed said they’d want Canadians to approve becoming part of the U.S. before proceeding, compared to only 24% who said the U.S. could act unilaterally.
Americans are split on the security of their northern border despite Trump’s insistence it’s a major problem, with 47% saying they’re not concerned while 44% are concerned.
Based on a survey of 11 U.S. polls by ABC News since Trump was inaugurated, there’s more bad news for the U.S. president.
His net approval rating of +7 (50% approve, 43% disapprove) entering the presidency is the lowest for any president in more than 70 years, save for Trump’s first term, when it was +3.2
By comparison, Joe Biden’s net approval rating heading into office was +22, Barack Obama’s +47, George W. Bush’s +28 and Bill Clinton’s +34.
Americans are also skeptical about Trump’s promise to make life more affordable this year.
An AP/NORC poll found 61% skeptical his actions will lower food costs, 64% skeptical he they will lower housing costs and 65% skeptical health costs will decrease.