Avoiding US goods and services – from tech to whisky to air travel – has forced many to find a new way of living
This week the US imposed 50% tariffs on US$20bn (£15bn) of Canadian goods, and Mark Carney, the country’s prime minister, has vowed to match them “dollar for dollar” after the collapse of trade talks between the two countries last weekend. Donald Trump retaliated on Thursday by ordering the federal government to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Such actions have added fuel to a widespread boycott of US products and services by Canadians that began early last year in response to the president’s trade war and threats to annex his northern neighbour.
More than 3,500 people from across Canada shared with the Guardian via an online callout how they have made changes to their lives in response to the US administration’s political and economic stance. Many expressed deep anger and sadness, but remained resolute that this was now a new way of living.
I hope the boycott doesn’t stop even after if ever the regime changes. US will stay the same, what happened today can happen tomorrow.
I think the boycotts will mostly continue even after Trump. Once people make an effort to change brands, they’ll probably not go back, and people will get used to going on vacation in places other than the US. A lot of trade is being re-routed to Europe and Asia, once supply chains shift, we probably won’t be shifting them back any time soon.
I have seen that the costs of having america as a middle man for everything are becoming better known. Massive disruptions at first but then as time goes on I see more direct from China, EU, etc. becoming more common in Canada and prices coming down. The usa does not really make that much so once you stop using them as a hub it will be hard to justify going back to. And with their constant race to the bottom I don’t see why anyone would want say their lettuce or “meat” in a few years.