The once strong alliance between Canada and the United States has come to an abrupt halt. More so than tariffs, Canadians were offended when President Donald Trump continually stated that America should absorb Canada as the 51st state. A recent poll found that over a quarter of Canadians now see the US as an enemy nation.
The Leger survey of 1,500 Canadians and 1,000 Americans found that 27% of Canadian respondents view the United States as an “enemy,” although 30% still consider the neighboring nation an “ally.” On the flip side, only 1% of Americans see Canadians as an “enemy,” with 56% believing they remain an “ally.”
Canadians from every political party expressed unfavorable views of Donald Trump. Overall, 74% of respondents do not see him in a favorable light. Conservative Party members were most likely to have a favorable view with 27% approving of the US president and only 18% deeming the US an “enemy.” Only 21% of Liberals and NDP supporters see the US as an ally, with 34% and 47% deeming America an “enemy” nation.
There have been calls throughout Canada to boycott American products. Amazon revealed it would be closing its Quebec warehouse, eliminating 2,000 jobs, leading to a widespread call among Canadians to boycott Amazon and cancel Prime memberships. Others are calling for a boycott on other American streaming services like Netflix and Disney.
Canadian consumers are boycotting American food items. I have friends in Canada who have said that US products have been sitting on the shelves at a discount as Canadians no longer wish to contribute to the US economy. Even certain coffee shops have renamed the “Americano” espresso drink to the “Canadiano,” and many have begun boycotting American fast food chains like Starbucks and McDonald’s. Some are calling for a travel boycott and urging fellow Canadians to vacation elsewhere for at least the next four years until Trump is out of office.
Anti-American sentiment will only rise if these tariffs go into effect. Trump told Canada that the US was subsidizing its economy and no longer considered it a vital trading partner. Americans would understandably take offense if another world leader suggested that Americans abandon sovereignty to join a foreign nation. The only positive is that this patriotic nationalism has repaired domestic tensions among Canadians amid much political turmoil.
