Trump's tariffs may be postponed, but Canadians still plan to boycott America

On February 3, just one day before Donald Trump's planned tariffs on Canadian goods were set to take effect, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a significant last-minute agreement with the U.S. President.

This deal resulted in a one-month delay of the tariffs. Trudeau also highlighted that Canada was prepared to impose a retaliatory 25% tariff on U.S. goods in response, underscoring the tense trade relations between the two countries.

Trump's "economic attack" on Canada as some have called, has deeply offended and angered Canadians. Several Canadians who spoke with CBC News stated that they felt "disrespected" and "betrayed" by Trump's actions.

And even though tariffs have been postponed for one month, many still plan to boycott and avoid spending their money on American products and services.

This sentiment may stem from Trudeau's address in which he outlined the retaliatory tariffs Canada would impose if Trump proceeded with his tariff threats. In his speech, Trudeau encouraged Canadians to engage in a grassroots boycott of American products, stating, "It might mean checking the labels at the supermarket and picking Canadian-made products. It might mean opting for Canadian rye over Kentucky bourbon, or foregoing Florida orange juice altogether. It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada."

But are Canadians really willing to give up their beloved American products? Well, according to CBC News, many are, even despite the temporary hold on the tariffs, many want to keep their money in Canada.

CBC spoke to 22 year-old Daniel Miksha from Calgary who had been considering applying to master's programs at Harvard, Yale and Boston University. However, after Trump's antics he told the news outlet he didn't want to study in the US at all anymore.

Miksha told CBC, "Seeing that kind of hostile message toward Canada and just the general souring of the political environment [in the U.S.] makes me think that that's not a place I want to settle down and try to raise a family."

Miksha added, "Regardless of whether these tariffs hit, this use of economic threats to scare Canadians is aggressive and unacceptable."

CBC spoke to several Canadians who said they were making lists of American products to avoid buying and expressed their anti-American sentiments to the news channel. For example, Matthias Neill, a dual Canadian-American citizen, told CBC News in Toronto he plans to boycott all American-made products, adding, "I've never felt more anti-American in my life."

The CBC also spoke to Don Profit, who owns an independent supermarket in Ottawa. He told the news outlet that he was putting "Made in Canada" signs up in his store to highlight Canadian products making it easier for shoppers to choose local.

Profit also told CBC News, "Whatever is labelled Canadian, it's going to be [the] choice for me, even if it's not a preference," adding, "While the tariffs are on, I'm going to boycott American products."

The anti-American sentiment is indeed alive and well in Canada. Much more so than it has been in recent years, and it is all thanks to Trump's tariffs. As reported by CTV News, on February 1, at a Senators hockey game in Ottawa, Canadians booed the Star Spangled Banner as it was played before the Senator faced off against the Minnesota Wild.

Some Canadians are so angry that they have even cancelled plans to visit the United States. For example, Reuters spoke to Mike Davies of British Columbia, who told the news outlet, "To have Americans insult Canada has got my back up. … I think every Canadian is just disgusted, right? I just think (the tariffs are) treachery."

Davies told Reuters that even founded a Facebook group encouraging people to boycott American goods, cancelled his Netflix subscription and is trying not to use Amazon. He added that he had plans to visit a friend in North Carolina, but now he will not go, saying, "We're not going to America at all."

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