A new Pew Research Center poll shows more Canadians now hold a favorable view of China (44%) than the United States (33%) under President Donald Trump, marking a shift from last year when opinions were evenly split.
The survey of 1,020 Canadians, conducted by phone between Feb. 8 and May 13, reflects broader global trends: China is viewed more positively than the U.S. in 30 of 36 countries polled. The U.S. leads in just six, including India, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea.
Canada-China Relations Amid Human Rights Concerns
Canada has joined international condemnation of China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, where the UN estimated in 2018 that up to one million were detained in internment camps. In 2021, Canada sanctioned four Chinese officials over "gross and systematic human rights violations."
Diplomatic tensions escalated after China’s detention of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, as well as the 2025 executions of four dual Canadian-Chinese citizens on drug charges. Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian from Abbotsford, B.C., remains on death row in China since 2019.
Trade and Diplomacy Under Prime Minister Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has sought to thaw relations with Beijing, visiting China in January to discuss trade, energy, and security. The trip—Canada’s first prime ministerial visit to China in eight years—yielded a preliminary trade deal reducing tariffs on Canadian agricultural products and Chinese electric vehicles.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Ottawa in June, meeting with Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. Anand stated Canada aims to boost exports to China by 50% by 2030 while safeguarding national security. Tensions with the U.S. persist, including Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Republican criticism over wildfire smoke crossing the border.
