Avoiding US goods and services – from tech to whisky to air travel – has forced many to find a new way of living

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.

  • wirebeads@lemmy.caEnglish
    0·
    5 days ago

    It’s more than that for me. Many products I bring into Canada from Europe come into the country via a warehouse or subsidiary in the US before landing in Canada.

    I’ve stopped importing their products even though they’re not American.

    I want to source their products direct or work with them to build out distribution here in Canada.

    We need to change the worldview that America is the centre piece. Their fascists and what we’re seeing is a symptom of what America really is. Boycott them.

    • TeaWithDani@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      4 days ago

      Yeah, I’m annoyed at a lot of transformed food products saying “made in Canada from imported produce”. Basically American diarrhea spreaders. Ain’t buying food that will kill us.

      I’ve successfully cut the use of nearly every American product or service since last year. Genuinely worth it and enriches your life. You just realize how enshitified everything is.

      I don’t think the American public has understood how these are permanent lifestyle changes. Any trade agreement, getting alcohol back on the shelves, will make these people change that. Tourists are gone. People will not cross the border with the risk of being sent to concentration camps in chains over minor bullshit.

      • ayyy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        0·
        4 days ago

        Tourists are gone. People will not cross the border with the risk of being sent to concentration camps in chains over minor bullshit.

        Conceptually and culturally I agree that this should be happening, but for reasons I can’t understand, the numbers and data hardly show a drop.

          • ayyy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
            0·
            4 days ago

            There are select articles you can find like this, especially about Las Vegas specifically, but I find them to be unconvincing clickbait. The FIFA World Cup and the upcoming Olympics were and are projected to still be packed full of visitors. It’s very disheartening. It seems to me like most people still take the “yeah but it won’t happen to me” attitude toward the stupid fascist thugs.