It does not carry Not two months In the White House, but Donald Trump has turned the beginning of his second term into an earthquake that has been felt at a political, social and economic level. Within the US. And outside, beyond its borders, where Your approach Russia has already taken the EU to Tread the accelerator for rearm. With that backdrop in Canada and Europe it is taking a trend, still incipient but that is still striking after decades of American hegemony in the culture of consumption: The boycott To goods USA.
At the moment (especially in Europe), a movement of individuals who share lists of alternatives to US brand products, but is still a demonstration of something much more interesting: how the US is altering its world hegemony.
The Canada spark. In the month and a half that has been sitting in the Oval Office, Donald Trump has focused his focus on Denmark, Greenland, Mexicothe renowned “Gulf of America”the EUthe BRICS NationsUkraine, Russia and Chinaamong other countries. However, there is one of the list that has felt the second mandate of the Republican in a special way: neighbor Canada, to which Trump has come to refer as “State 51” of the United States.
That, added to Trump’s speech and his commercial threats and Tariffhis northern neighbor has not liked, who has seen how in recent months a patriotic feeling grew that has manifested several ways. One (very clear) is the Increased sale of Canadian flags. Another is one Boicot campaign to the goods of the USA that is gaining strength in the country, with movements both in business at street level and in Internet And even in The offices.
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What kind of boycott? Despite the intense commercial flow between the two countries, which only last year exceeded the 762,000 million Of dollars, in Canada there are those who are already advocating the back of the US products. The clearest example is ‘Made in ca’platform created during Trump’s first mandate and offers goods lists made in the country. His motto: “By and for Canadians.” Trudeau himself has encouraged his citizens to prioritize local products.
It is not an isolated case. CNN News published this week A report with Canadian testimonies who have decided to do without goods from the USA, both as customers and entrepreneurs. Among others, the chain spoke with Graham Palmateer, a Toronto pizzero who has dispensed with Trump’s country ingredients. In Ontario the Liquor Control Board even has eliminated thousands of US bottles, A whole sake For brands like Jack Daniel´s.
“Boykot Ver Fra US”. Canada’s is probably the clearest example, but it is not the only one who has seen how voices arise that support a boycott to the US. Europe has also encountered an incipient movement that has one of its clearest examples in ‘Boykot Vary Fra US’a Facebook group that aspires precisely to that (“support a boycott” to the US) and in a short time has reached 66,000 followers. It is not bad if one takes into account that part of Denmark, a country with just under six million inhabitants.
The speech of his driver, Bo albertus, cannot be more resounding to Talk about Trump: “Just understand a language, that of money, so I thought this is the only way to understand what Europeans have to say.” That the initiative has emerged in Denmark is no accident. Albertus explains that he decided to get away from the chains of Fast food Americans after Trump shows his ambitions on Greenland, but the definitive impulse was The episode A week ago by Trump and Zelensky in Washington.
Network movements. Swedes also have their own group, “Bojkotta Varor Fran USA”with more than 50,000 members. Its objective is similar to that of the Danish, although its members have already proven that looking for alternatives to the US products or avoiding their multinationals is not always simple. “It is very difficult to boycott US products systematically, fast and long term,” Recognize a user in statements collected by France24. Therefore, it attached a list of uses USA and Swedish and European substitutes.
A quick search on Google shows more initiatives along the same lines, of people who share product lists. In Reddit is for example Buyfromeua community created in mid -February and that already adds 127,000 members who are dedicated to sharing news, lists and memes. Its objective: “Support goods and services manufactured in Europe.” So that this work is much simpler the web Buy European Made It includes a business search engine for issues and countries.
Putting it easy. The phenomenon also extends to networks. In Tiktok we find for example the account Choose.europewith more than 56,000 followers and share videos so that ketchup lovers, fried potatoes, mayonnaise, cookies, electric cars, shoes, soft drinks … can continue to satisfy their tastes with products from European companies. With that objective, the US brands of each category followed by similar products from other countries.
In both Canada and in Europe the movement is incipient, limited and collides with the enormous commercial flow with the US, which in the case of the EU amounted to 2024 to 975.9 billion dollars (with US exports to the EU worth 370,200); But it is still interesting. Especially since we come from a different scenario, in which the weight of the USA has been overwhelming in consumption.
Putting stars. The Salling Group, behind Føtex, Bikka and Netto, has even started Identify goods Manufactured in Europe with a star to make customers easier who want to avoid US products. “We make it easier to buy European brands,” he argues On LinkedIn Its director, Anders Hagh, who denies in any case that will eliminate teachings from other countries or want to boycott the US. “It is an additional service for customers who want to buy European brand products.”
Recently Novus published A survey which reveals that in neighboring Sweden about 78% of citizens consider boycotting US merchandise. The idea seems more entrenched among women. 91% of those surveyed with between 18 and 34 years declared themselves partisans of taking out the USA products from their basket, a percentage that descends to 61% between men of the same age strip. Among the elderly, 83% say, however, not seeing the idea of the boycott with bad eyes.
Images | Carlos Macías
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