Majority (59%) of Canadians Don't Support U.S.-Style
Free Trade Agreement with China

Toronto, ON - When it comes to increased trade talks with China, a majority of Canadians do not want a trade agreement similar to the one Canada has with the United States, according to a new poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television. Three in five (59%) `disagree' (23% strongly/36% somewhat) that `Canada should enter into a Free Trade agreement with China like the one we have with the US', while two in five (41%) `agree' (7% strongly/34% somewhat) that Canada should enter into such an agreement.

Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (66%) are most likely to `disagree' that Canada should enter into a Free Trade agreement with China, followed by British Columbians (61%), Ontarians (60%), Quebecers (57%), Albertans (56%), and Atlantic Canadians (51%). Half (49%) of Atlantic Canadians, however, believe that Canada should develop such an agreement with China, followed by two in five Albertans (44%), Quebecers (43%), Ontarians (40%), and British Columbians (39%) and one in three (34%) residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Increasing Trade in Asia, China, and India

Although a majority of Canadians don't wish to see a Free Trade agreement between Canada and China, this is not to say that they don't want to see an increase in trade between Canada and the Asian region, in general. Three in five (61%) `agree' (13% strongly/47% somewhat) that `Canada should increase the amount of trade it does with Asia', although two in five (39%) `disagree' (10% strongly/29% somewhat). Western Canadians (British Columbia - 69% and Alberta - 70%) are most likely to `agree' that increased trade between the two regions should take place, likely due to their proximity to the region by comparison. By comparison, a slim majority (54%) of Ontarians agree.

While a strong majority support increased trade with Asia, Canadians are less likely to support increased trade, specifically, with India and China. A majority (56%) of Canadians `agree' (10% strongly/46% somewhat) that `Canada should increase the amount of trade it does with India', while a minority (44%) `disagree' (10% strongly/34% somewhat). This compares favourably to a razor thin majority (51%) who `agree' (9% strongly/41% somewhat) that `Canada should increase the amount of trade it does with China', as half (49%) `disagree' (15% strongly/34% somewhat) that increased trade should occur between these two countries.

British Columbians (65%) most `agree' that Canada should increase trade with India, followed by Albertans (61%), Atlantic Canadians (60%), Quebecers, and Ontarians (51%), while a majority of residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (51%) `disagree' that Canada should increase trade with India. When it comes to increasing trade with China, Albertans (59%) `agree' most that trade should increase, followed by Quebecers (55%), Atlantic Canadians (53%), and British Columbians (53%). A majority of Ontario (56%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (51%) residents, however, `disagree' that Canada should increase trade ties with China.

A reason why many Canadians might be hesitant to increase trade with China could be due to their government's record on human rights and promoting democracy, which is something most Canadians believe should be emphasized in all trade with other nations. Seven in ten (70%) Canadians `disagree' (26% strongly/44% somewhat) that `when negotiating trade agreements, Canada puts too much emphasis on issues such as human rights and democracy', while just three in ten (30%) `agree' (6% strongly/24% somewhat) that Canada puts too much emphasis on human rights and democracy in trade negotiations.

Ontarians (74%) `disagree' most with the notion that Canada puts too much emphasis on human rights and democracy in trade talks, followed by Quebecers (71%), British Columbians (69%), residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (65%), Atlantic Canadians (64%), and Albertans (61%). Albertans (39%) are most likely to `agree' that too much emphasis is placed on these rights during trade negotiations, followed by Atlantic Canadians (36%), residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (35%), British Columbians (31%), Quebecers (29%), and Ontarians (21%).

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between December 7th to 12th, 2012, on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television. For this survey, a sample of 1,021 Canadians from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case the poll is accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points of the entire Canadian adult population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Darrell Bricker, PhD
CEO
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
416.324.2001
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. In October 2011 Ipsos completed the acquisition of Synovate. The combination forms the world's third largest market research company.

With offices in 84 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,363 billion (1.897 billion USD) in 2011.

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