What specific actions are Canadian consumers taking to boycott US goods, and how widespread is this movement?

Canadian consumers are boycotting US goods by choosing Canadian groceries—including fresh produce—avoiding travel to the US, refusing US technology and streaming services (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Disney+), rejecting US petrol and vehicles like Teslas, and shunning American whiskies such as Jack Daniel’s; they are also avoiding social media platforms including X, Facebook, and Instagram. The movement is widespread: a July Angus Reid survey found 40% of grocery shoppers were actively checking product origins, and most of those respondents avoided US-made items where possible. Acronyms like ABUS (Anything but US) and ABUSA (Anywhere but USA), along with the hockey-inspired slogan 'Elbows Up!', have emerged nationally to symbolize this collective resistance.

How have recent US trade policies and political actions—particularly under Trump—triggered and intensified this Canadian boycott?

The boycott began early last year in direct response to Donald Trump’s trade war and threats toward Canada, intensifying after the US imposed 50% tariffs on US$20bn of Canadian goods this week—prompting Prime Minister Mark Carney to vow 'dollar for dollar' retaliation following the collapse of bilateral trade talks. Trump’s further symbolic escalation—ordering the federal government to rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America'—added fuel to public outrage. Canadians like William McDonald explicitly linked their personal boycotts to Trump’s tariff actions starting in February of last year, describing his conduct as that of 'a schoolyard bully yelling and stomping their feet when they don’t get the cowering reaction they expect.'

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Aug 29, 2026

Canadian consumers are boycotting US-made products, including food and beverages, in response to new tariffs and trade disputes. This shift impacts supply chains as shoppers seek domestic alternatives for groceries, alcohol, and household goods.

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'If It’s Made in the US, I Don’t Buy It': Canadians Boycott Trump’s America

'If It’s Made in the US, I Don’t Buy It': Canadians Boycott Trump’s America

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