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Boycott USA! Trump tariffs prompt backlash against US goods

48 11
11.04.2025

Donald Trump's suite of so-called Liberation Day tariffs may be on hold for now, and somewhat watered down, but consumers outside of America maintain boycotts against products from the United States.

From Canada to Europe — traditional US allies are among the hardest hit — people are rallying behind "buy local" initiatives organized on social media and within bricks-and-mortar shops.

Trump imposed a blanket 10% duty on all imports into the US on April 2. A "reciprocal" tariff began at 12:01 a.m. on April 9 on select nations before the US President announced later the same day that he would now implement a 90 day pause and lower most tariffs to the 10% base rate. The one exception to the new arrangement is China, which faces 125% tariffs after Trump said the country had shown a "lack of respect" to the "world's markets."

While some affected countries are rolling out their own trade barriers, consumers have been waging their own campaigns in response.

In the EU, which initially had an additional 20% tariff slapped on their exports by the US before the April 9 climbdown, locals are trying to upend — sometimes literally — American products.

Several Facebook groups have been set up since Trump first indicated tariff measures to organize boycotts and campaigns. A Swedish group called "Bojkotta varor fran USA" in Swedish, meaning "Boycott goods from the US," had almost 86,000 members when the tariffs were due to come in.

It hopes boycotts will pressure the Trump administration to end its sanctions. The use of the American platform Facebook is justified as it is "the best weapon," it added.

A French group called "BOYCOTT USA: Achetez Francais et Europeen!" — BOYCOTT USA: Buy French and European! — has almost 30,000 members.

There also appears to be support for a similar stance in Germany. Research group Civey found 64% of Germans would prefer to avoid US products, if possible. A slim majority said Trump's policies are already influencing their shopping choices.

An online........

© Deutsche Welle