Full Breakdown
Canadians and Mexicans Favor China Over the United States for First Time in Two Decades
7/31/2026, 12:11:18 AM
Shift in Favorability Toward China in Canada and Mexico
A Pew Research Center survey released after data collection concluded on May 13, 2026 shows that, for the first time in nearly 20 years, majorities in both Canada and Mexico rate China more favorably than the United States. In Canada, 44 % of respondents expressed a favorable view of China compared with 33 % for the United States. In Mexico, the gap is larger: 59 % favor China while 40 % view the United States positively.
Survey Scope and Key Numbers
The poll surveyed 42,151 adults across 36 countries and territories between early February and mid-May 2026. Across the full sample, China now enjoys a favorable rating in 25 of the 36 nations, whereas the United States is favored in only six. In Canada, attitudes have shifted dramatically from 2023, when 57 % favored the United States and just 14 % favored China; by 2025 the two were roughly equal, and the 2026 results place China ahead. Among Mexican adults aged 18-34, seven-in-ten view China favorably, compared with just over half who hold a positive view of the United States. Confidence in leadership also changed: Mexican respondents are about three times more likely to express confidence in President Xi Jinping than in President Donald Trump regarding world affairs.
Regional and Global Comparisons
The trend mirrors broader movements in Latin America, where Pew found declining U.S. favorability in five of six surveyed countries while Chinese views remained steady. Although China now leads in most nations, the United States retains a relative advantage on the perception that it respects personal freedoms, a gap that has narrowed but persists.
Potential Drivers and Implications
Pew researchers attribute the reversal to two parallel dynamics: rising favorability toward China and a steady decline in U.S. favorability. The start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term in January 2025 is noted as a contextual factor coinciding with the shift. The findings suggest a reassessment of soft-power balances among traditional U.S. allies, potentially influencing diplomatic, economic, and security calculations in North America and the broader region.
