The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, July 17, edition that more than one in two American businesses say the United States is better off because of free trade with Canada, with strong support in the northeastern U.S., says a new Nanos poll. The Globe's Michelle Zilioa writes that the survey found that 54 per cent of U.S. businesses think the U.S.'s economy is in a better spot because of free trade with Canada, while 15 per cent believe it is worse off, 17 per cent believe there has been no impact and 14 per cent are unsure. Regionally speaking, surveyed businesses in the northeastern U.S. had the most positive impression of free trade with Canada, with 59 per cent saying the U.S. economy is better off because of it. Nearly 57 per cent of surveyed businesses in the southern U.S. had a positive impression of free trade, followed by the western U.S. at 52 per cent and Midwest at 46 per cent. The U.S. is expected to release its official North American free-trade agreement negotiating objectives on Monday. Canadian officials say talks could start within days, or at most weeks. Nik Nanos says: "American businesses see trade with Canada as an opportunity. It's not a threat."