Canada renews push to boycott US products

MONTREAL - Philippe Meranger just finished his grocery shopping in Montreal.The 61-year-old held several products under his arm as he told AFP: “Tariffs hurt our economy, but they force us to buy Canadian.”“And I’m all for that.”The escalating trade conflict with the United States is stirring a wave of patriotism in Canada, where Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is encouraging people to boycott American products now more than ever.Since US President Donald Trump launched his tariff offensive in 2025, Canadians have staged a massive boycott of US goods: American wines and spirits have disappeared from shelves in most provinces, while the number of Canadian tourists travelling to the United States has also fallen.And the government is trying to give the movement fresh momentum.“It’s good to remember that the greatest power we all have is our own purchasing power... We can choose to buy Canadian, and we must choose to buy Canadian,” Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne insisted on Aug 25 as he unveiled Canada’s response to the new US tariffs.Industry Minister Melanie Joly added: “When you choose a Canadian product, you’re not only putting pressure on the United States, you’re protecting jobs” in Canada.Peter Gianopolis, the manager of a Montreal supermarket, said on Aug 26 he could “already see a difference” in consumer behaviour since the Canadian government’s decision to break off trade negotiations with Washington.“Customers ask where products come from and always prefer those from Quebec, even if they’re more expensive,” he said.Labels and the maple leaf from the Canadian flag clearly identifying products’ origins have proliferated in stores since 2025.And many retailers are appealing to economic patriotism.At a Canadian Tire store in Montreal, a chain that sells hardware supplies and other goods, employees on Aug 26 wore T-shirts bearing the evocative slogan: “We all play for Canada.”‘No US vacations’Beyond food and everyday products, the boycott is also playing out in tourism.“I’ve decided not to vacation in the United States for the next few years,” lawyer Charlotte Dumonceau said.The tourism boycott, which in 2025 led to a 25 per cent drop in the number of Canadians travelling to the United States, has begun to show signs of losing steam in recent months.In June, 2.3 million trips were made from Canada to the United States, up five per cent from a year earlier, according to Canada’s statistics agency.Concerned tourism operators in some US border states are rolling out the red carpet with discounts for Canadians.New York state, in particular, has launched its “New York Loves Canada” initiative, offering a series of promotions to Canadians through the end of the year. AFP