Boycott fever spreads: After Canada, Denmark and Europe join forces in rejecting U.S. products over trade policies

As tensions in trade keep mounting during US President Donald Trump's presidency, a movement to boycott American goods has gained popularity in Denmark and Europe after many such movements in Canada, with people using social media to show their discontent and seek alternatives, according to a report.

According to an Associated Press report, Google trends revealed a rise in searches for the words; “Boycott USA,” and “Boycott America,” after Trump announced new tariffs, with the top regions including Denmark, Canada and France.

Europe's Protests Rises

The boycott has gained momentum in Denmark to protest against Trump's policies, reported Associated Press. Recently the US president threatened the US will take over Greenland, which is currently an autonomous part of Denmark, as per the report.


In Denmark, a Facebook group called "Boykot varer fra USA" (Boycott products from the US) has attracted over 80,000 members, mirroring the nation's growing displeasure with American goods, reported AP. Administrator Bo Albertus explains that the boycott is an act of protest, meant to send a message against Trump's administration and policy.

Even in France, similar protests are occurring. Edouard Roussez, a Northern French farmer, started a Facebook group named "Boycott USA, Buy French and European!" that swiftly gained more than 20,000 members in only two weeks, as per the report. According to Roussez, the boycott of American companies is a good way to show opposition to Trump’s “commercial and ideological war” against Europe, reported AP.

He identifies such firms as Airbnb, Uber, and Tesla as firms that contributed to the funding of Trump's campaign—as prime boycott targets, as per the report.

The Irony of Using Facebook to Protest US Companies

Ironically, most of these boycott movements are occurring on social media platform Facebook, an American-owned site, reported AP. Roussez acknowledges that only Facebook enabled him to get in front of so many people, although he's in the process of moving his group to sites not supported by the US funding, according to the report.

Denmark's Supermarket Giant Takes Action

In Denmark, the reaction against American products has hit the shelves of the nation's supermarkets. The Salling Group, the country's biggest supermarket chain, has moved to satisfy customer demand by introducing a new star-shaped logo to designate European-produced items. Although the company denies that this is part of an organized boycott, the action demonstrates Danish consumers' willingness to be able to identify and select more easily European alternatives to American products.

Salling Group CEO Anders Hagh wrote in a LinkedIn post that, “Our stores will continue to have brands on the shelves from all over the world, and it will always be up to customers to choose. The new label is only an additional service for customers who want to buy goods with European labels,” as quoted by AP.
Psychological Impact and the Likely Consequences

Likely Consequences

According to a professor of economics at the University of Gothenburg, Olof Johansson Stenman, the impact of the protests and boycotts is unlikely on US export profits or policymaking, reported AP.

However, Stenman claimed that, "The boycott could have a psychological effect on Americans who see the scale of anger," as quoted by AP.

FAQs

What’s driving the boycott against the US in Europe?
The boycott stems from growing frustration with President Trump’s trade policies and actions like his threat to seize Greenland from Denmark.

Are consumers in Europe part of the boycott?
Yes. Consumers are increasingly looking for alternatives to US products and have started supporting local European brands in response to political and trade tensions.