(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Canada believe one country holds an advantage in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 51 per cent of respondents think the United States has benefited the most from the commerce deal.

Conversely, 22 per cent of respondents believe Mexico has benefited the most from NAFTA, while only eight per cent feel the same way about Canada.

In addition, 45 per cent of respondents would like to renegotiate NAFTA, 24 per cent want Canada to continue in the agreement under its current terms, and eight per cent want their country to leave the accord altogether.

In 1993, NAFTA brought Mexico into the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the U.S. that had been in place since 1989. The accord eliminated import tariffs on goods circulating among the three countries.

On Feb. 28, Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper discussed his views on the issue in the House of Commons, saying, "I think the NAFTA is a solid agreement for both of our countries. Of course, if any American government ever chose to make the mistake of opening that, then Canada would obviously have some things we would want to discuss as well."

Polling Data

As you may know, Canada, the United States and Mexico have been partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) since 1994. Overall, which one of the three countries do you think has benefited the most from the agreement?

Which of these statements comes closest to your own point of view?

Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,006 Canadian adults, conducted on Mar. 5 and Mar. 6, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

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