If you were wondering whether Americans are on board with the escalating trade war with Canada, a new poll has a pretty clear answer: nope.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey released Tuesday found that 57% of Americans oppose slapping more tariffs on Canadian goods, while only 20% support the idea. And the renaming of Lake Ontario to 'Lake America'? Even less popular. 63% are against it, with just 14% in favor.
The lake renaming isn't just a bipartisan issue; it's dividing Trump's own party. About a third of Republicans back the move, but 43% oppose it. Among Democrats, support is a paltry 6%.
The poll also suggests Americans would rather find common ground than dig in. A solid 68% said the U.S. should be willing to make tradeoffs with Canada "even if it means it doesn't get most of what it wants," while only 25% prefer a tougher stance.
When it comes to the pocketbook, pessimism reigns. Just 4% of respondents think tariffs will have a mostly positive effect on their personal finances, while 40% expect a mostly negative impact.
Trade Talks Collapse, Retaliation Begins
The poll comes as U.S.-Canada trade negotiations reportedly fell apart. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick pushed back against tariff relief, including a proposed cut in auto tariffs from 25% to 15%. Canada's response? Retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on about $20 billion of U.S. goods, covering everything from steel and aluminum to clothing, smartphones, and video game consoles.
The renewed tensions are hitting American alcohol exporters particularly hard. Canadian provinces had already pulled many U.S. spirits from government liquor stores, and the numbers are stark. U.S. spirits exports to Canada plunged more than 70% to $60 million between March and December 2025.
Canada dropped from the second-largest to the sixth-largest market for U.S. spirits. Brands like Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, and Tito's remain largely absent from Canadian shelves.
Brown-Forman Corp. (NYSE:BF) reported a 59% drop in Canadian sales, underscoring the risk that U.S. alcohol makers could struggle to win back lost market share even if the trade war cools.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.
