A slim majority of Canadians now support closer trade and economic ties with China, marking a notable shift in public opinion as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares for a high-profile visit to Beijing aimed at resetting strained bilateral relations.
According to a new Ipsos poll conducted exclusively for Global News, 54 per cent of Canadians say they favour stronger trade relations and economic agreements with China. The survey, conducted in early December 2025 among 2,001 Canadian adults, suggests attitudes have softened significantly compared to five years ago.
In 2020, amid heightened tensions triggered by foreign interference allegations and China’s detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, nearly 80 per cent of Canadians wanted Canada to reduce its reliance on the Chinese market.
Ipsos CEO Darrell Bricker said the renewed openness toward China is driven less by changing perceptions of Beijing and more by growing unease over Canada’s economic exposure to the United States, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump continues aggressive trade policies.
“This isn’t about people suddenly liking China,” Bricker said. “It’s about Canadians asking who else they can trade with. When you look at the world’s second-largest economy and population, China becomes difficult to ignore.”
Carney is set to spend five days in China beginning Tuesday, the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister since 2017. During the trip, he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, building on their initial meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea last October.
Canada–China relations sharply deteriorated in 2018 after Kovrig and Spavor were detained by Chinese authorities following Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on U.S. charges. Although the detainees were released in 2021, trade tensions have persisted.
Over the past two years, Canada has imposed a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum, aligning with U.S. measures. China retaliated in March with steep tariffs on Canadian agricultural exports, including canola, peas, pork, and seafood—moves that have particularly affected provinces such as Saskatchewan.
Since taking office, Carney has argued that Canada must “reset” its relationship with China in response to U.S. trade uncertainty. Ottawa’s foreign policy has shifted from attempting to isolate China to pursuing what the government calls a “strategic relationship” that blends cooperation with competition.
Carney has emphasized the need for clear limits, saying Canada can work closely with China on areas such as climate change, energy, and basic manufacturing, while maintaining firm safeguards around national security.
Experts, however, urge caution. Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa, warned that deeper engagement with China carries long-term risks if clear guardrails are not in place.
“We have to ensure Canada isn’t being used as a wedge between China and the United States,” she said, adding that advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals must remain protected.
Former detainee Michael Kovrig, now a senior advisor with the International Crisis Group, also cautioned against easing tariffs in exchange for Chinese concessions, particularly in the electric vehicle sector.
“Dropping EV tariffs could hollow out Canada’s auto manufacturing industry within a decade,” Kovrig warned.
Despite those concerns, the poll suggests economic pressures are reshaping public priorities. Seventy-one per cent of respondents said direct economic benefits to Canadians are very or critically important in trade agreements, with more than a quarter calling them a deal-breaker.
While 60 per cent cited human rights as an important consideration, only 25 per cent said Canada should pursue values-based trade exclusively—even if it results in slower economic growth. By contrast, three-quarters said economic outcomes should take precedence, even when trading partners do not share Canada’s values.
Bricker said the findings reflect a more pragmatic mood among Canadians.
“When people feel economically threatened, values arguments tend to take a back seat to self-interest,” he said.
Still, critics argue Canada must not ignore human rights and security concerns as it re-engages with Beijing. Advocates, including members of the Canada–Hong Kong democracy movement, warn that past detentions and political repression demonstrate the risks of deeper economic ties.
The poll found Canadians divided on how far pragmatism should go: 20 per cent believe trade should be used to pressure countries on human rights, while 18 per cent support purely pragmatic trade focused on economic gain. Only 16 per cent favour protectionist policies that reduce reliance on international trade altogether.
As Carney heads to China, the polling suggests Canadians are cautiously open to renewed engagement—but expect the government to balance economic opportunity with long-term national interests.