Canadian consumers call for boycott of American-made food in light of tariff threat

With the looming threat of American tariffs on Canadian goods, some shoppers are swearing off U.S.-made products. CTV's Kimberley Johnson reports.

Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs against Canadian goods has some shoppers in Ottawa thinking twice about what they buy.

A long shopping list of possible products coming from the U.S. is being shared widely on social media. It names popular grocery items, such as soft drinks, condiments, snacking foods like potato chips, and encourages consumers to look for home grown brands. It’s not known who started the list.

Peggy Chambers says while grocery shopping in Ottawa’s east end that buying Canadian was top of mind for her.

“I approached it cautiously because I am very aware of what’s happening politically,” she said.

Buying as many Canadian products as she can is more important than ever for her.

The U.S. president has repeatedly threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian made goods as soon as Feb. 1.

Chambers hopes to make her voice heard through the grocery aisle.

“Looking at things, whether it’s made in Canada, as long as it’s not made in the States, you think your safe,” Chambers said.

One expert says simply “Buying Canadian” can be complicated.

Sylvain Charlebois, a professor at Dalhousie University and director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, tells CTV News Ottawa many American companies use Canadian farmers and distributors.

“It really depends how you actually see this,” he said. “If you see the brand itself as being your main point to make a decision, you may be deciding that you’re boycotting Canadian farmers, Canadian distributors, Canadian processors.”

Some foods like dairy, meat and some in-season produce are more clearly labeled with the country in which they are made.

“A boycott like this is actually an interesting phenomenon because it gets people to start thinking about where the products are coming from,” he said. “So that’s a gain in itself in my view.”

And while it can be a more complex process, those like Chambers say it’s worth it.

“As Canadians you feel helpless in what you do, but you try your best,” she said.