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Even Americans aren’t fans of President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, according to a new survey.
In a poll conducted between Jan. 10 and 13, the Angus Reid Institute found that 50 per cent of Americans oppose Trump’s plan.
Only 26 per cent are in favour.
But among Trump supporters, the figures are very different: 53 per cent back the tariff and 19 per cent oppose.
When told the tariff could cause the price of gasoline to increase by between 30 and 70 US cents, however, 62 per cent of those in favour change their mind.
The survey also found:
59 per cent of Canadians support retaliatory measures on critical exports to the US
62 per cent of Canadians back a 25 per cent tariff on key US exports to Canada
61 per cent of Canadians favour a 25 per cent tariff on all US goods
60 per cent of Canadians consider the US to be Canada’s most important trading partner
Just 13 per cent of Americans think Canada is the US’s most important trading partner
Angus Reid’s research also found that support for Canadian counter-measures is lowest in Alberta and Quebec.
A third of Albertans (36 per cent) said they’d oppose a plan that would include an embargo on Canadian oil exports.
That group is likely to feel well represented by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who refused to approve a statement from the premiers and federal government issued on Wednesday.
Smith said in a statement that “Alberta will simply not agree to export tariffs on our energy or other products, nor do we support a ban on exports of these same products.”
She referred to such an action from the federal government as “destructive.”
Smith previously said that if Ottawa pushed to block oil exports to the US, it would create a crisis of “national unity,” hinting at Albertan separatism.
Angus Reid’s poll was conducted online among representative samples of 2,027 Canadian adults and 2,010 American adults.
To see the data, head here.