Why are shoppers abroad boycotting American goods

Bo Albertos, the school principal in Denmark, finds the Spanish raisins, who was now snacks at the least delicious of his favorite fading from California. There is no perfect alternative to Heinz tomato soup, which is an essential element in his store. He misses Pepsi Max.

But as long as President Trump follows the policies that Mr. Albertos, 57, believes that the economy of Europe and security is at risk, he will boycott these American products and other American products. He is one of the increasing number of Europeans, Canadians and others who imagine American goods to show their pain and panic from Mr. Trump’s long -term treatment of allies.

“I felt a feeling of helplessness,” said Mr. Albertos, a Danish director. Facebook group Deotified to boycott American goods, which includes 90,000 members. “We all feel that we are doing something,” he added. “We are acting on our frustration.”

It seems that the most powerful momentum behind such a consumer procedure is in the countries that Mr. Trump immediately carried out, such as Denmark, which Greenland lands He threatened to take, and Canada, who said again and again The 51st American state must become.

But as Mr. Trump embraces the president Vladimir F. Putin From Russia and the definitions are imposed on European Goods and groups for boycotting American goods and switching advice on local alternatives have appeared in many European countries.

in Swedish Facebook group With more than 80,000 members, users request tips about buying non -American laptops, dog foods and toothpaste. Members of a French group sing the praise of the European Washing detergents Smartphone applications, discussing whether CGNAC or Scotch Whiskey is a better alternative to Borbon.

There are also detailed discussion threads about what is exactly a “American” product-were Coca-Cola have been manufactured in Europe, or Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, now owned by the British company Unilever? This explains how provinces in the era of globalized trade are not clear. But the groups are often a place for the Europeans and others to exchange stories and venting about their opposition to the policies of the United States.

Magn Ginsen, 49, a government agency coordinator in Copenhagen, acknowledged that many millions of people buy American products all over the world, and the provinces of some consumers in some countries may not make a big difference, at first. However, she stopped buying Oreos and Heinz Ketchup, and she replaced Estée Lauder Night Serum for a local brand, Beauuté Pacifique.

“I’m not even a decrease in the ocean,” she said. “But this is my little way to protest.”

Mrs. Jensen confirmed that her decision to stop buying American goods was opposed to the Trump administration, not the American people. “We want our friends to return,” she said.

The reverse reaction led some stores to implement changes that facilitate customers to identify local products. The largest grocery chain in Canada, Loblaw, used “T” code To indicate the products made by the United States, which are more expensive due to the recently developed tariff Canada. In Denmark, the grocery store chains Netto, Bilka and Fotex The stars added to the price signs Their mother company of European goods said after customers asked to place a clearer mark.

Elizabeth Brao, an older colleague in the Atlantic Council, said that the interconnected global social media gave consumers more than ever.

She said: “America has done many doubtful things over the years, but I do not think that the Vietnam War might cause a campaign like this, simply because social media was not available.”

Business leaders realize possible costs. Beyond meat, plant -based food company with Headquarters In California, she warned in her latest financial report that she might lose customers internationally because of “”Feelings against America“

Michael Middlain, CEO of Supermarket in Canada, Empire, said this month this month that the company’s sales of American products “decrease quickly” due to the increasing demand for non -American products. The company said that this decrease will continue with the company’s sources of more products from countries other than the United States, as the retaliatory tariff in Canada makes us more expensive to import goods.

Lindt, the Swiss chocolate maker, said this month that in Canada, he will start selling chocolate made in Europe instead of the United States, to avoid definitions and reduce the risk of reverse reaction.

One of the most difficult American brands abroad may be the Tesla car maker, who has become the CEO, Elon Musk, is a major figure in Mr. Trump’s management. He also promoted the extreme right -wing parties in Europe on X, the social media platform he possesses. In Germany, the largest market in Europe for electric cars, Tesla cars sales fell 76 percent in February compared to the previous year, according to the German Automobile Industry Association.

The provinces also struck the digital world, as consumers said they canceled the subscriptions in Netflix, Disney+and Amazon Prime Video and other broadcast services – although alternatives with similar offers were not easy to find. Mr. Albertos participated in ViaPlay, a Swedish flow service, where he recently started watching “Monk”. “It is an American series, but life is not perfect,” he said.

Mouristzen, who started the Danish Facebook group, said he deleted his accounts on Airbnb and Hotels.com, and stopped using Google and Microsoft Office. (He justified its use of Facebook, based in California, as a group platform because it was the easiest way to reach most people.)

“It is very important to say that we still love Americans, we still love the country,” he said. “There is a current situation that we do not like, and there is a current administration that we do not like.”

Mr. Mauritzen, a 57 -year -old goalkeeper, said he hoped that relations between the United States and Europe will return to where they were. But if that takes time, Mr. Moritzen is ready: he has a stock of 12 bottles of American manufacture Tapasco The hot sauce, the only thing he could not live without, was purchased before the boycott begins.