A new Canada U.S. China poll reveals a striking shift in how Canadians see their southern neighbour. Canadians’ opinions of the United States have dropped sharply, while their views of China have improved. This marks the first time in decades that Canadians favour China over the U.S.

The findings come from a Pew Research Center report released Wednesday. Researchers surveyed Canadians between February and May. The results highlight a dramatic change in public sentiment toward both global powers.

Canadians’ Favourability Ratings Shift Toward China

According to the report, 44 per cent of Canadians surveyed hold a favourable view of China. Meanwhile, only 33 per cent feel the same about the U.S. This gap did not exist just a few years ago.

Last year, Canadians were “equally” favourable toward both countries. However, the trend looked completely different in 2023. Back then, most Canadians had a “positive view” of the U.S. at 57 per cent, compared to just 14 per cent who viewed China positively.

Pew’s report compared views of the U.S. and China worldwide. Researchers rated each country’s president, respect for personal freedoms, and foreign policy stances. As a result, the study paints a broad picture of shifting global attitudes.

Flags of the U.S. and China fly along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.

The shift comes amid friction between the Trump administration and Canada. Additionally, tensions have grown between the U.S. and several other allies. Consequently, this friction appears to be reshaping how Canadians perceive their closest trading partner.

The findings also mark a notable change from the COVID-19 pandemic era. During that time, many countries’ opinions of China were “near historic lows,” the Washington-based, non-partisan think tank noted in an article on Wednesday. Today’s numbers tell a very different story.

Why Views of the U.S. Have Changed

Laura Silver, a researcher involved in the study, explained the significance of this shift. She noted it was the first time in about 20 years that Pew has tracked global views showing countries favouring China over the U.S. This finding surprised many analysts.

Silver, who serves as associate director of Pew’s Global Attitudes Research, pointed to specific events driving negative views of the U.S. For instance, she cited President Donald Trump’s calls to take over Greenland. She also referenced the U.S. response to the Israeli-Hamas war.

“By comparison, we know that China is seen to be a more reliable partner in many places. It’s more likely to be seen to contribute to global peace and stability,” Silver told The Associated Press in an interview published Wednesday. Her comments reflect a broader global pattern.

In 2025, most respondents worldwide still viewed the U.S. more positively than China. However, Pew noted that impressions of the U.S. worsened throughout 2025 as Trump returned to power. Therefore, this year’s results build on a trend that was already forming.

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

How Other Countries View U.S. and China

Canada is not alone in this shift. People surveyed in 36 countries now see China more positively than the U.S. Furthermore, more respondents overall have higher confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping than in Trump.

In the United Kingdom, only 41 per cent of respondents held a positive opinion of the U.S. in 2026. This number fell sharply from 59 per cent in 2023. Meanwhile, China’s favourability rose to 46 per cent, up from 27 per cent three years ago.

Spain shows a similar pattern. This year, just 30 per cent of respondents viewed the U.S. positively, down from 55 per cent in 2023. On the other hand, positive opinion of China rose to 54 per cent, compared to 28 per cent three years earlier.

France tells the same story. Only 27 per cent held a positive view of the U.S. in 2026, sliding from 52 per cent in 2023. Meanwhile, 36 per cent of French respondents viewed China positively this year, up from 22 per cent three years ago.

Indonesia recorded the steepest decline in U.S. favourability. Just 29 per cent of respondents view the U.S. favourably this year, plunging from 55 per cent in 2023. In contrast, positive opinion about China surged to 72 per cent, compared to 49 per cent three years ago.

Overall, the report found that only six countries viewed the U.S. more positively than China. This represents a significant reversal from previous years. Still, the picture isn’t entirely one-sided.

Most respondents still rated the U.S. government higher on personal freedoms than Beijing. However, this gap has been shrinking since Pew first asked the question in 2021. Notably, Canadian respondents who said the U.S. respects personal freedoms dropped by 25 percentage points between 2021 and this year.

What This Means Going Forward

This Canada U.S. China poll signals a meaningful shift in North American public opinion. Trade tensions, foreign policy decisions, and geopolitical events all appear to be shaping how Canadians view their allies. As global dynamics continue evolving, these attitudes may shift further in the months ahead.