Canadians Overwhelmingly Support Free Trade Agreements in North America

A recent survey conducted by Nanos Research on behalf of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs has found that Canadians view free trade in North America as crucial to their national economy. The study, which gathered data from 1,044 Canadians aged 18 and older between May 31 and June 2, 2026, reveals a strong support for maintaining an agreement like the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement).

According to the survey, 84% of respondents believe that free trade relationships with other parties are important to the Canadian economy. Furthermore, 83% of those surveyed expressed their support for the current USMCA agreement.

The study also inquired about Canadians' preferred path forward for their leaders regarding USMCA and Canada-U.S. relations. The results show that a significant majority (71%) believe that maintaining or strengthening the USMCA agreement is essential, while only 15% think it should be renegotiated or abandoned.