U.S. President Donald Trump isn’t even a month into his second four-year term as America’s leader, but already the relationship between the Yanks and their neighbors to the north has changed.
Initially, Trump announced the United States would impose a 25% tariff on most goods Canada exports to its southern neighbor, and a 10% levy on energy exports. That announcement was met with great disdain as some stores pulled American products, like bourbon whiskey, from their shelves. Canadians heartily booed the Star-Spangled Banner when it was played before NHL games.
Trump announced those tariffs would be suspended for 30 days after he said he received concessions from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on border security issues. However, this week Trump unveiled a new series of 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to the U.S.
That includes Canadian exports, and further, if Trump reinstates the original tariffs next month, then those metals from Canada – the largest steel exporter to the U.S. – would get slapped with a 50% tariff.
At BetCanada.com, we veered from our usual Canada sports betting coverage because we wondered how concerned Canadians are about the Trump tariffs. We ran a Reddit.com poll under the r/AskACanadian forum to better understand the levels of concern. Our Reddit survey had 350 respondents. Based on a survey done by IPSOS.com, we also developed odds on how likely it is that Canadians will be boycotting American products.
How Concerned Are Canadians For The U.S. Tariffs?
Response | Percentage of Votes* |
Concerned for Canada | 65% |
Not Concerned for Canada | 26% |
Other (Canada Will Come Out Stronger) | 9% |
*Rounded to nearest whole number
Just how much concern is there regarding the Canadian tariffs? This week the premiers of Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories gathered in Washington to meet with Trump Administration officials to address several concerns, including those about the tariffs and the U.S. President’s rhetoric about making Canada the “51st state.”
A study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a Washington-based research organization, found that the Canadian gross domestic product would drop by upwards of 1.2% annually through the end of the decade. The annual drop in GDP would nearly double should Ottawa issue retaliatory levies.
Odds Canadians Will Boycott American Goods
Outcome | Odds | Percent Chance |
Boycott | -200 | 66.7% |
Not Boycott | +200 | 33.3% |
In the days after Trump announced the tariffs, several Canadian provincial leaders reacted by ordering their liquor regulators and wholesalers to pull American-made beers, wines and whiskeys from store shelves.
A potential boycott, though, wouldn’t just affect American-made products. The U.S. Travel Association estimated this month that if Canadians made 2 million fewer trips to the States in response to the tariffs, then it would have a USD $2.1 billion impact on economies south of the 49th Parallel – that could cost 14,000 American jobs.
A tourism boycott would likely impact Las Vegas more than any other community, save for cities such as Detroit and Buffalo that are right on the border. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, nearly 1.4 million Canadians visited America’s gaming capital in 2023, making the country Las Vegas’ top international market.
Our reviews of the best Canadian online casinos will keep you apprised of alternatives closer to home.
Odds The Tariffs Will Stay
Outcome | Odds | Percent Chance |
Yes | -250 | 71.4% |
No | +250 | 28.6% |
People nationwide who responded to our survey fear that should Trump follow through with the Canadian tariffs then they will likely stay, a move that would exacerbate any economic damage to the country.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimates the across-the-board tariffs would push America’s largest trading partner into a recession by the middle of this year.
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