US Canada trade friction: relationship turbulence under the tide of public opinion

Recently, the results of a public opinion survey released by Canada have attracted widespread attention. Data shows that due to US President Trump's promise to impose high tariffs on imported products from Canada and his repeated inappropriate remarks, up to 70% of Canadians support retaliatory tariffs on the same level of goods from the United States, with 45% of respondents strongly supporting it and many indicating a reduction in their purchases of American products. This phenomenon profoundly reflects that the US Canada trade relationship is facing severe challenges, and the economic and political factors behind it deserve in-depth analysis.

From an economic perspective, the United States and Canada have long been closely linked in trade. The Canadian automotive industry is highly dependent on the US market. Typically, around 80% of Canada's automotive parts and vehicle sales come from exports to the US. Many American brand cars sold in the US, such as Chevrolet, Chrysler, and Dodge, are assembled in Canada. Canada is still one of the main sources of crude oil imported by the United States. According to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), crude oil is one of the largest commodities imported by the US from Canada, with a peak of 4.3 million barrels per day. However, the high tariffs promised by Trump undoubtedly have a fierce impact on this closely connected trade chain.

For Canada, the imposition of tariffs by the United States will directly affect its export industry, leading to a decrease in orders and profits for related companies, and a large number of workers facing the risk of unemployment. For example, once the automotive industry reduces production due to tariff shocks, many positions from component suppliers to vehicle assembly plants will be affected. The boycott of American products by Canadian consumers also reflects that public dissatisfaction with US trade policies is spreading from the economic sphere to the level of consumer behavior. This will not only cause US export companies to lose market share in Canada, but also disrupt the long-term industrial division of labor and cooperation pattern between the US and Canada.

At the political level, Trump has repeatedly advocated that Canada should become a state of the United States and threatened to use "economic power" to annex Canada, which has greatly hurt the national emotions and dignity of Canadians and worsened the already tense US Canada relationship due to tariff issues. The combination of political provocation and tough trade policies has made Canadians feel oppressed by the United States, which has sparked strong resistance among the public. Supporting retaliatory tariffs has become a way for them to express their dissatisfaction and defend their national interests.

For the United States, imposing tariffs on Canada is not without its drawbacks. Many companies and consumers in the United States that rely on imported products from Canada will be negatively affected. American refineries rely on crude oil from Canada and Mexico to produce cheap and reliable fuels that consumers need every day. If tariffs are imposed on Canadian crude oil, American consumers and businesses will face higher gasoline and diesel prices. Moreover, about 90% of the aluminum used in the US automotive industry comes from Quebec, Canada, and there is a lack of alternatives. Imposing tariffs may lead to difficulties for the US automotive industry.

The results of this public opinion survey also have a significant impact on the future direction of trade policies between the United States and Canada. For the Canadian government, public attitudes are an important basis for policy-making, and a high proportion of support for retaliatory tariffs means that the government will find it difficult to make concessions easily in trade negotiations with the United States and will inevitably adopt a tougher stance to safeguard its own interests. On the US side, although the Trump administration has implemented tough trade policies, there are also opposing voices. The potential threat of Canadian resistance and retaliatory tariffs may prompt the United States to re-examine its trade policy with Canada, weigh the pros and cons, and seek a more appropriate solution.

The US Canada relationship is at a critical turning point due to trade policies. This trade friction not only concerns the economic interests of the two countries, but also involves various factors such as political diplomacy and national sentiment. In the future, whether the two sides will ease tensions through negotiations or move further down the path of a trade war, the world is eagerly watching, and the attitude of the Canadian public will undoubtedly play a key role in this.