Photo: Wikimedia Commons May 6, 2025 — President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office

Canadians Losing Faith in Trade Talks Despite Warm White House Meeting

A new Angus Reid Institute survey suggests most Canadians doubt that recent friendly exchanges between Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump will lead to meaningful progress on a trade agreement.

The findings show two-thirds of respondents believe the cordial tone displayed during the White House meeting was mostly for show and unlikely to produce real results. Only about one in five expressed optimism that the encounter would pave the way for a fair deal between the two countries.

Confidence in Canada’s trade prospects has been falling for months. In July, nearly half of Canadians said they felt confident a good deal could be reached, but that number has since dropped sharply. The latest results indicate only 35 per cent now share that confidence, while a clear majority express doubt.

The decline appears to be rooted in concerns about Washington’s approach rather than Ottawa’s. A majority of those surveyed pointed to Trump’s unpredictable behaviour as the main reason for their skepticism. That sentiment was strongest among Liberal supporters, but even a notable share of Conservative voters voiced similar unease.

The stalled negotiations, which missed an August deadline set by Trump, continue to weigh on public confidence despite efforts by both leaders to project unity.