Canadians haven’t jumped on the protectionist bandwagon to nearly the same extent as people in some other developed countries, but when the idea of Chinese state-run corporations gaining greater access to Canada comes up, the answer is a resounding “no.” A new poll from Nanos Research, carried out for the Globe and Mail, found nearly nine in 10 Canadians are “uncomfortable” with the idea of China’s large, government-controlled business gaining more access to Canada's economy — an almost inevitable aspect of any free trade deal with China. Eighty-eight per cent of respondents were either “uncomfortable” or “somewhat uncomfortable” with opening Canada up to Chinese Chinese state-owned firms. Only 11 per cent said they were comfortable with the idea.

Chart: Nanos Research A trade deal with China would almost inevitably mean giving government-controlled businesses greater access to Canada’s economy. The vast majority of China’s largest corporations are at least partly state-owned, and many of their top executives are hand-picked by government. That could pose a political problem for the governing Liberals, who are pursuing a trade deal with China in the wake of rising protectionism in the U.S., embodied by the rise to power of President Donald Trump. The Liberals have said they expect a trade deal with China to create jobs in Canada in the longer run. Canadian officials held exploratory talks on a trade deal with China earlier this year, and another round of talks is expected this month.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (left) holds talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa, Sept. 22, 2016. (Photo: Xinhua/Huang Jingwen via Getty Images) After China’s state-run CNOOC bought oilsands player Nexen in 2012, then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper changed regulations to make it more difficult for state-run enterprises to take over Canadian companies. Trade experts say that’s one rule China’s government will want rescinded. Some predict that China will even want the ability for Chinese companies to import their own employees to work on projects in Canada. Observers note that such a clause is part of China’s free trade deal with Australia, which was signed in 2015. In an interview with the Globe and Mail last month, China’s ambassador to Canada, Lu Shaye, said his government is looking for total access to Canada’s economy. Lu also rejected the notion of linking human rights to a free trade agreement. “Investment is investment. We should not take too much political considerations into the investment,” he said. “Just like the negotiations of the (Canada-U.S.) FTA, we should not let political factors into this process. Otherwise, it would be very difficult.” A majority of Canadians disagree. The Nanos poll found two-thirds of Canadians agree with the notion that human rights in China should be linked to a free trade deal with Canada. Twenty-one per cent opposed the idea, and 14 per cent were unsure.