Three-quarters favour holding firm, yet majorities find higher taxes, retirement losses and increased household job-loss risk unacceptable.
TORONTO, Sept. 8, 2026 /CNW/ — Seventy-five percent of Canadians surveyed favour holding firm in the trade dispute even if economic costs last longer, yet approximately 68% find increased household job-loss risk unacceptable as part of Canada’s response to U.S. tariffs, according to a new Build Canada survey.
“Elbows up” is not a blank cheque: Build Canada survey finds resistance to household costs of trade dispute
Majorities also reject higher taxes and retirement losses across every tested scenario, including the lowest amounts. The findings reveal tension between support for a firm negotiating position and acceptance of its possible household consequences.
“‘Elbows up’ is not a blank cheque,” said Lucy Hargreaves, co-founder and CEO of Build Canada. “Political leaders should not confuse broad support for holding firm with consent to endure personal losses. These results show that Canadians favour a firm negotiating position while rejecting what it could mean for their jobs, taxes and savings.”
Asked how long they would personally accept higher costs before wanting concessions, 40% say “as long as it takes,” approximately 28% select a finite period, and 28% would accept none.
Majority resistance across the costs tested
Respondents rated the personal acceptability of consequences occurring as part of Canada’s response to U.S. tariffs:
Job-loss risk: Approximately 68% find a noticeably higher chance of someone in their household losing their job unacceptable, including 46% who call it completely unacceptable.
Higher taxes: Approximately 56%–60% reject annual household tax increases across scenarios testing $500, $1,000 and $2,500.
Retirement losses: Approximately 58%–68% reject losses in retirement savings or investments across scenarios testing declines of 5%, 10% and 20%.
Different groups received different tax and retirement scenarios. These findings measure hypothetical acceptability, not actual losses.
A substantial partisan divide
Holding firm attracts 96% support among respondents reporting a Liberal vote in April 2025, compared with 41% among reported Conservative voters.
Retired respondents are more willing than full-time workers to accept higher costs indefinitely, at 54% versus 36%; 44% of blue-collar respondents would accept no higher costs, versus 20% of white-collar respondents.
Many already report making sacrifices: 69% say they chose Canadian products despite higher prices in response to the dispute during the previous twelve months.
The findings identify limits to stated willingness. They do not establish that support has declined, who faces the greatest financial exposure, or when respondents would demand concessions.
About the survey
Build Canada commissioned, funded and conducted this bilingual survey of 1,696 adults in Canada’s ten provinces, August 31–September 4, 2026. Participants were randomly selected through cellphone random digit dialing and invited by SMS to an online questionnaire.
Results were weighted by age, gender, region and education to 2021 Census benchmarks. The estimated maximum full-sample margin of sampling error is ±3.1 percentage points at 95% confidence, using the reported design effect of 1.68. Precision varies for subgroups and split-ballot results. Comparisons are descriptive; combined percentages are approximate.
Build Canada is a CRIC member. Research Verification Service code: 20260831-BU261. Full methodology, questionnaire and tables: www.buildcanada.com/polls/us-can-trade-dispute.
About Build Canada
Build Canada is a non-partisan civic movement that connects and equips Canadians working to make Canada the world’s most prosperous country. It uses polling, technology and a nationwide network to support public participation. buildcanada.com
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