International trade

‘If it’s made in the US, I don’t buy it’: Canadians on boycotting Trump’s America

International trade

‘If it’s made in the US, I don’t buy it’: Canadians on boycotting Trump’s America

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

By Jane Clinton, Sat 29 Aug 2026 08.02 EDT

For William McDonald, 38, a diesel mechanic from Thunder Bay, Ontario, “Canadian is always the first choice,” even if it means his weekly bills are higher.

“As soon as Trump started putting those tariffs on in February [last year], I started boycotting US goods,” he said. “Avoiding American products has driven my costs up, and I’m still happy to do it.

“I used to drink US beer, but now I drink Canadian beer, and that costs me an extra C$1,000 (£531/US$720) a year. Likewise, groceries cost about C$50 more a week, but you work that extra hour to pay for it.”

McDonald likened Donald Trump’s behavior towards Canada as “a lot like the schoolyard bully yelling and stomping their feet when they don’t get the cowering reaction they expect”.

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.

Read more: ‘If it’s made in the US, I don’t buy it’: Canadians on boycotting Trump’s America – International trade – The Guardian

Continue/Read Original Article: ‘If it’s made in the US, I don’t buy it’: Canadians on boycotting Trump’s America | International trade | The Guardian