A new Chicago Council survey finds 81% of Canadians view USMCA positively, with strong resistance to making concessions on trade
Most Canadians continue to back the country's free trade agreement with the United States and Mexico and want their political leaders to hold the line on concessions, even as cross-border tensions remain elevated, according to a new national survey released in August 2026.
The poll, conducted by Nanos Research on behalf of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, found that 81 per cent of Canadian adults rate the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA, known in the US as USMCA) as either "very good" or "good" for the Canadian economy. Just six per cent view the deal negatively, with 13 per cent unsure.
The findings carry clear implications for financial advisors and wealth managers tracking the macro backdrop for Canadian portfolios. Trade policy uncertainty has been a persistent headwind for markets and client sentiment alike, and the survey suggests Canadians broadly value the economic architecture the deal provides.
Canadians prefer stability over renegotiation
When asked how Canada should approach the existing agreement, 52 per cent of respondents said they support continuing under current terms. Twenty-four per cent would favour renegotiation, even if the resulting deal were less favourable, a position that underscores just how strongly Canadians value the certainty of the existing framework. Only seven per cent favour leaving the agreement altogether.
That 2-to-1 preference for stability over renegotiation is a signal worth noting for advisors advising clients on cross-border investment exposure or currency risk. The political appetite for disruption appears limited.
On Canada-US relations more broadly, the survey found that 69 per cent of Canadians prefer their leaders to resist making trade concessions, even if doing so results in a worsening of the bilateral relationship. Only 23 per cent favour seeking improved relations through concessions, a 3-to-1 margin in favour of holding firm.
British Columbia respondents rate the European Union as the most economically important trading relationship, with 71 per cent calling it "very important", higher than any other province. Atlantic Canadians show the highest degree of U.S. skepticism, with 12.6 per cent saying the US relationship is "not very important" economically.
Age also shapes perspectives. Canadians aged 55 and older are more bullish on CUSMA, with 86.6 per cent rating it positively compared to 72.3 per cent among those aged 18 to 34.
The EU factor
In a finding that may surprise some, the European Union ranks above the United States as Canada's most economically valued relationship in the eyes of Canadians surveyed, with 65 per cent calling the EU "very important" compared to 54 per cent for the U.S., 50 per cent for Mexico, and 37 per cent for China.
