A recent Mustel Group poll reveals significant anxiety among British Columbians regarding the potential impact of a broad-based 25% tariff on Canadian goods exported to the United States. An overwhelming 92% of respondents expressed concern, with 56% being “very” concerned. This sentiment is consistent across all demographic segments. The survey was conducted among 500 Metro Vancouver residents.
The sweeping tariffs are set to come into effect in early March barring another reprieve from the US President.
When it comes to our preparedness to deal with this looming trade tax, only 33% of residents believe that the federal government is taking sufficient measures to prepare for it, while 27% remain unsure. Similarly, confidence in the BC government’s preparedness is low, with only 31% feeling assured and 30% uncertain.
The survey findings underscore a critical concern: the vast majority do not feel that any level of government is adequately preparing for the potential economic fallout from these tariffs.
Trump has already imposed a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel, and recently announced reciprocal tariffs that could disrupt decades of trade policy. In 2018, he implemented similar taxes on steel and aluminum products from Canada during the NAFTA renegotiations, leading to significant trade tensions and retaliatory tariffs from Canada on various U.S. products. Although a resolution was eventually reached, the current climate suggests a high risk of economic conflict, especially with Trump’s ongoing expansionist rhetoric.
The poll results indicate a clear demand for more proactive measures from both federal and provincial governments. With only a third of residents confident in the federal government’s actions and a similar proportion trusting the BC government’s efforts, there is a pressing need for transparent and effective strategies to mitigate the potential impact of these tariffs.
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About this survey:
- 500 online interviews conducted with Metro Vancouver residents, 18 years of age and older.
- Mustel Group’s Giving Opinions panel used (100% randomly recruited) supplemented by a panel partner to ensure the sample is representative of the population.
- Minor weighting was applied to match the sample to Statistics Canada census data on the basis of age, gender and region.
- Margin of error on sample: +/-4.4% at 95% level of confidence. Please note that margin of error only applies to random samples.
- Data collection: January 22 – 28, 2024
- Please see data tables here