Most Canadians say the old U.S. relationship is ‘over,’ Nanos finds #CanadaFinance

Investing.com — A large majority of Canadians believe the traditional pillars of the U.S.-Canada relationship are no longer intact, according to a new poll by Nanos Research for Bloomberg News. Nearly 80% of respondents agreed, 43% strongly and 36% somewhat, that “the old relationship we had with the United States” is finished.

The statement referenced the close economic and security integration that long defined Canada’s alliance with its southern neighbor. While originally coined by Prime Minister Mark Carney on the campaign trail, the poll intentionally did not attribute the statement to him to avoid bias.

The survey was conducted from May 5 to May 8, during a week that included Carney’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. The data capture a moment of heightened anxiety over Trump’s tariffs and repeated threats to “make Canada the 51st state,” which have reshaped Canadian sentiment and boosted support for Carney’s newly elected government.

Nearly three-quarters of Canadians also said they are less likely to buy U.S.-made goods, up 10 points from December. That shift in consumer behavior coincides with a decline in Canadian imports from the U.S. in March, even as shipments from other trade partners increased.

The survey results suggest widespread support for Carney’s proposed strategy to reduce economic dependence on the U.S. by expanding trade ties in Europe and Asia. However, with about 75% of Canadian exports still heading to the U.S., any decoupling is expected to face structural limits.

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