Epoch Readers Divided Over Tariffs on Canada, United Over China Concerns

0:00Epic readers divided over tariffs on Canada, united over China concerns. The Trump administration's 50% tariffs on goods from Canada have sparked debate and concern. The Epic Times asked readers about the tariffs, which the administration initially delayed, then put in place in August. The tariffs will apply to an estimated $20 billion worth of goods coming from Canada. Readers are somewhat divided about the tariffs as they pertain to the United States relationship with Canada, but united in concern over China's possible use of Canada as a workaround to US trade policy. Concern about trade with Canada. The tariffs were enacted under section 338, which was passed as part of the tariff act of 1930 and according to our survey. 71% of respondents agree that a trade deficit of $48 billion with Canada justifies higher tariffs on our neighbor. Additionally, 64% of those surveyed agree that Canada's retaliatory tariffs,

1:01which will come into force on September 8th, on US Steel, aluminum, and autos, justify the new 50% US tariffs. Overall, about 58% of readers believe that the 50% tariffs on Canadian imports will protect more US jobs than they put at risk. However, 21% either don't know or are not sure. A large majority agreed that Canada's lower tariff could create a backdoor for Chinese electric vehicles into the US market, which was just one of several concerns about a possible Chinese and Canadian skirting of American policy. International concerns. Fewer than half of readers surveyed believe that Canada should retain sovereignty over its China tariff policy, while 86% said they believe Canada's preferential US access should depend on blocking Chinese goods from bypassing US tariffs. Meanwhile, 89% of readers said that minor processing in Canada should not make Chinese goods be considered of Canadian origin. Additionally, 53% agreed that the United

2:05States should target Chinese origin goods rather than broadly tariff Canadian goods. A call for change. International negotiations continue, but around half of those pull-believe that the United States should escalate tariffs to win more concessions from Canada. Canada is more dependent on the US and should not have oppressive tariffs on our goods heading to Canada while thinking we won't reciprocate. One reader commented, When asked whether the United States should keep the 50% tariffs even if Canadian retaliation raises US energy costs, 58% agreed, and 55% agreed that US tariffs should target the products in dispute, not broader Canadian goods. While this diplomatic conflict has dominated the news for weeks, it's not the first time North American trade has taken the spotlight. 72% of readers agreed that the United States Mexico-Canada Agreement, signed in July of 2020 under the first Trump administration,

3:05needs major changes. The agreement, which was meant to protect trade and business, is sometimes thought to cause damage to both. While some have posited that the President alone shouldn't be responsible for this kind of decision, 23% of readers pulled said they believe that tariffs as high as 50% should require congressional approval. Support for conciliatory responses to Canada. 36% of our readers agreed that Canadian energy imports benefit the United States even when they widen the trade deficit. However, the largest percentage of readers responding to this question said they either don't know or are just unsure, and 26% disagreed with the assertion. However, when asked if the United States should have accepted mutual tariff cuts on steel, aluminum, and autos, 44% disagreed, and 24% said they are either unsure or don't know. When asked whether 50% tariffs create too much risk of higher prices amid elevated inflation, 40% disagreed, and 37% agreed. When asked what should

4:12be the top U.S. priority in this dispute, 42% said it should be preventing China from bypassing U.S. tariffs. About 18% said the top priority should be U.S. jobs and manufacturing, and 16% said it should be preserving the U.S. dot Canada alliance. USA needs to retain good relationship with Canada, but not at the expense of allowing them to either take advantage of USA or sneak around strengthening relationship with any country that costs the safety of either, said one reader. The epic times conducted this reader survey on September 2nd to 3rd, 2026 by email and social media generating 3,184 responses.