Buying Canadian/Boycotting US Goods

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

They produce some good rums.

My friend's family owns this place.

When her daughter worked there she would hook me up with free bottles.

Posts that seem dirty but aren't.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Are Walmarts and Costcos no-go zones because they are American brands?


McDonald's & Wendy's? Coca-Cola & Pepsi?


What's the guideline here.

Or American products sold at Canadian retailers? And Canadian products sold at American owned retailers?

[CaptainYooh]

This thread is beyond silly. Imagine the devastation which would be caused by Americans boycotting all made in Canada goods and abandoning travel to Canada. They can. All they need is Trump calling it a new patriotic duty.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Are Walmarts and Costcos no-go zones because they are American brands?


McDonald's & Wendy's? Coca-Cola & Pepsi?


What's the guideline here.

Tims is American now?

What’s left? Mr. Sub

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

This thread is beyond silly. Imagine the devastation which would be caused by Americans boycotting all made in Canada goods and abandoning travel to Canada. They can. All they need is Trump calling it a new patriotic duty.

So your saying we should instead lick the boots of those threatening our existence?

[troutman]

Border states are feeling the pain and begging for Canadians to come back.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

So you’re saying we should instead lick the boots of those threatening our existence?

Of course, not. I hate this and I feel this new reality as much as anyone. But it is a new reality and we will adapt to it. According to most senior Canadian economists, tariffs will be negotiated and settled and will have an impact on our exporters but they will adapt. Support Canadian producers and manufacturers - absolutely! Calling for Boycotting US products is dangerous, because it could trigger retaliatory boycotts on steroids and Canada will suffer much more than US as a result.

[Fuzz]

Not buying stuff form people who are hurting you isn't dangerous, it's a rational thing to do. If you fear Trump retaliating, you just haven't been paying attention to anything. There is zero point in doing what he demands, because he'll just change the demand later. So by cowering, you've just given him the power without a fight. That's how bullies win. By convincing you to hand your power to them.


There isn't a lot an individual can do, but this is absolutely one of them. Giving them your lunch money so they can buy a ladder to piss on you isn't great strategy.

[Hockeyguy15]

Have fun buying US goods after they start WW3.

[Senator Clay Davis]

We're already in the throughs of a boycott and they haven't come over the top with retaliatory boycotts. Worth pointing out a lot of America hates current America, so they won't be retaliating and might even enjoy supporting us. As to the Trump cultists retaliating, well, with so many living in a double wide do we really have much to fear there?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Of course, not. I hate this and I feel this new reality as much as anyone. But it is a new reality and we will adapt to it. According to most senior Canadian economists, tariffs will be negotiated and settled and will have an impact on our exporters but they will adapt. Support Canadian producers and manufacturers - absolutely! Calling for Boycotting US products is dangerous, because it could trigger retaliatory boycotts on steroids and Canada will suffer much more than US as a result.

While I don't entirely disagree, what impact do you think a tariff on Canadian goods would have? It's not an out-and-out boycott, but when Canadian products increase by 25% (or whatever the percentage is), that will have the same impact.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Slava

While I don't entirely disagree, what impact do you think a tariff on Canadian goods would have? It's not an out-and-out boycott, but when Canadian products increase by 25% (or whatever the percentage is), that will have the same impact.

I attend and/or receive updates by chief economists at all Tier-1 Canadian banks. Tariff impact, once settled, is expected to be felt more in Ontario and Quebec manufacturing industries; much less in Alberta and Sask. Diversifying exports will help mitigate the impacts. Pipelines to the west and east would help tremendously. This is nothing new or earth shuttering. CUSMA is still in place and, so far, has not been attacked. Chances are, it may stay intact or be altered a bit; again, a new reality. Andrew Coyne said at the Calgary Forum that the biggest threat to Canada and the world is Trump’s getting more and more senile in what he says every day. So, yeah, this is not a great economic environment for Canada and we need to outlive Trump’s erratic policies and his time in the office.

My point, and the only point, was that public calling for boycotting American goods is unwise. US has shown time and time again to be easily united in “patriotic drives” against other countries. Canada will be greatly hurt if that happens on all levels.

[Fuzz]

Yes, I remember the effectiveness of the Freedom Fries movement.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Short of another 9/11, no event is uniting that country. And, again, we're already engaged in an effective boycott and they haven't outwardly done anything to try and retaliate. We're not obligated to support their businesses or tourism industry, and that was true before MAGA started.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I attend and/or receive updates by chief economists at all Tier-1 Canadian banks. Tariff impact, once settled, is expected to be felt more in Ontario and Quebec manufacturing industries; much less in Alberta and Sask. Diversifying exports will help mitigate the impacts. Pipelines to the west and east would help tremendously. This is nothing new or earth shuttering. CUSMA is still in place and, so far, has not been attacked. Chances are, it may stay intact or be altered a bit; again, a new reality. Andrew Coyne said at the Calgary Forum that the biggest threat to Canada and the world is Trump’s getting more and more senile in what he says every day. So, yeah, this is not a great economic environment for Canada and we need to outlive Trump’s erratic policies and his time in the office.

My point, and the only point, was that public calling for boycotting American goods is unwise. US has shown time and time again to be easily united in “patriotic drives” against other countries. Canada will be greatly hurt if that happens on all levels.

I'm well aware that CUSMA remains in place and protects the majority of our goods from tariffs. That said, we have tariffs on goods that are not protected, and it would be entirely foolish to think that we won't see more tariffs when CUSMA is renegotiated. That has not only been signaled by the US, but Carney has also spoken about that likelihood.

So, while that isn't a complete boycott of Canadian goods, it has the same impact on the sectors that they are targeting. The steel and aluminum, lumber, and auto sectors have been hit hard by these tariffs, and it has effectively created a boycott.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Slava

…

So, while that isn't a complete boycott of Canadian goods, it has the same impact on the sectors that they are targeting. The steel and aluminum, lumber, and auto sectors have been hit hard by these tariffs, and it has effectively created a boycott.

It has not. It either increases prices on CDN goods exported to US or, reduces margins to those manufacturing and exporting goods for US markets if there are competitively priced alternatives available. Boycotting at the public level results in shaming and ostracising those who buy the boycotted product (social media, industry relations, peers, partners etc.). Boycotting at the Government levels results in sanctions and fines. This is not happening (yet). I worry that it might.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

It has not. It either increases prices on CDN goods exported to US or, reduces margins to those manufacturing and exporting goods for US markets if there are competitively priced alternatives available. Boycotting at the public level results in shaming and ostracising those who buy the boycotted product (social media, industry relations, peers, partners etc.). Boycotting at the Government levels results in sanctions and fines. This is not happening (yet). I worry that it might.

It has. There are stories out now about how lumber companies are finally moving to the metric system because Americans have largely stopped buying their wood.

Also, it is unlikely that the government will ever really boycott American goods. All they will do is "reevaluate" certain purchasing strategies. Like switching from F-35s to Gripens (maybe). The message is simply: Canada isn't boycotting American made war equipment, we are just finding competitive alternatives that fit our climate better.

At lower levels, boycotting is not the right word. As the American FDA deregulates their agriculture industry and drops their exports below the healthy standards that Canada has for food regulations it will be logical to stop buying things like lettuce from the US because it has too much ecoli (because it is covered in literal #### from farm animals). Again, it is not a boycott, it is just a difference in regulations.

The public boycotting is awesome though. I enjoy every opportunity to put an American product back on the shelf to buy something from Canada or basically anywhere else. Costco seems to be pretty supportive of the idea of boycotting American and promoting local. There have been a few product changes in the last year that align with supporting it.

Talking travel is also interesting because now instead of talking about California or Vegas trips everyone is more interested in Mexico, Europe, or Japan. We all know that it is a travel boycott and a decision people are making personally and it is actually pretty fun because we are finding out how interesting and fun these other countries are to travel to, even if the flights are much longer.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Talking travel is also interesting because now instead of talking about California or Vegas trips everyone is more interested in Mexico, Europe, or Japan. We all know that it is a travel boycott and a decision people are making personally and it is actually pretty fun because we are finding out how interesting and fun these other countries are to travel to, even if the flights are much longer.

We are the same. We used to do these big bike trips, Moab, Bend, Sea Otter, etc. And we love skiing Whitefish so we spent a few weekends a year there. Maui was our beach vacation. And I'd go to concerts south of the border. Now we go elsewhere. Last year we went to Japan and it was the best vacation I've ever had. This year we are going to the UK and Scotland. I no longer spend my money in the US. I know I'm in the minority. I know plenty of people who still go to the US regularly.