EU, Mexico lead as choices for closer trade ties, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia further down the list

As Prime Minister Mark Carney travels to Asia on a quest to build trade ties with more countries in the wake of an ongoing tariff war with the United States, new data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute, in partnership with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, finds favourable views from Canadians towards most Asian countries but little knowledge, especially when it comes to those in Southeast Asia.

Carney plans to visit Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. A majority of Canadians say they know little or nothing about each of those three countries (90%, 82%, 73% respectively). This extends to other potential partners in Asia, with most Canadians reporting little knowledge of Japan (60%), Taiwan (77%), Indonesia (89%), Thailand (80%) and Vietnam (78%).

This lack of familiarity perhaps leads Canadians to look elsewhere when asked where they want their country to deepen trade ties. The top choice for closer trade connections is the European Union (57%), followed by Mexico (33%). More want Canada to continue focusing on the U.S. (24%) than explore potential trade avenues with Japan (12%), Southeast Asia (7%), South Korea (4%) or Taiwan (2%).

Still, there is evidently plenty of good will towards these countries from Canadians even if they lack knowledge. Across the board, excluding China, Canadians are more likely than not to want a friendly approach from their government towards countries in the Asia Pacific region.

More Key Findings:

• A high percentage of Canadians have favourable views of Japan (82%), Australia (80%), and New Zealand (77%). Favourability is lower, but still at a majority level for South Korea (62%), Taiwan (60%) and the Philippines (54%). 
   
• Most say they view Japan (79%), South Korea (64%) and Taiwan (59%) as “as good a trade partner as any” rather than one Canada should do less business with.
   
• Canada’s membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership is supported by nearly four-in-five (78%), but few (2%) say they know ‘a lot’ about the trade deal signed in 2018. Most say they know nothing (70%).
   
• Three-in-five (57%) believe “Canada should focus on bilateral and regional network-building in Asia.”
   

For more findings on Canadian perspectives on Asian economies and bilateral trade, please read this joint pubic opinion poll from the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Angus Reid Institute.