TORONTO, March 23, 2025 (Barron’s) — Canadians are mounting a powerful economic boycott against the United States, fueled by President Donald Trump’s recent tariffs and inflammatory rhetoric suggesting that Canada should become the “51st state.” The backlash is not only reshaping consumer habits but also affecting travel, trade, and local government policies.
A Growing Boycott Movement
Frustrated by Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and other goods, many Canadians are vowing to spend their dollars at home. Social media is filled with hashtags like #ElbowsUp, symbolizing defiance and unity, while shoppers share tips on how to identify and avoid U.S. products.
In grocery stores, maple leaf tags now mark Canadian-made items, helping consumers choose local over American brands. Some shoppers have adopted a new form of silent protest—flipping U.S. products upside down on shelves to signal others to avoid them.
Mobile apps like O SCANada and Maple Scan are surging in popularity, helping Canadians identify and support domestic products. O SCANada, created by Calgary resident Ryan Checora and his mother, Cathy, has been downloaded over 80,000 times. It uses AI to break down a product’s origin and its contribution to the Canadian economy.
Similarly, Maple Scan, launched just a month ago by Calgary developer Sasha Ivanov, has already surpassed 100,000 downloads and scanned more than 320,000 items. Ivanov says Canadians are making permanent changes to their buying habits, regardless of future trade relations.
Travel Boycott and Economic Fallout
The boycott is also impacting cross-border travel. Flight Centre Travel Group Canada reported a 40% drop in U.S. leisure bookings last month compared to February 2024, with Canadians opting for Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe instead.
Tour operators like Great Canadian Holidays & Coaches in Ontario are seeing a sharp decline in U.S. tour bookings. “The 51st state rhetoric and hostile threats to our sovereignty have virtually dried up new U.S. tour bookings,” said Vice President Michelle Hundt Tupman, adding that clients are choosing domestic trips over U.S. destinations.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, Canadians contributed $20.5 billion to the U.S. economy through tourism last year, supporting 140,000 American jobs. A 10% decline in Canadian visitors could result in 2 million fewer visits, $2.1 billion in lost spending, and 14,000 job losses.
Local Governments Take Action
The boycott is reaching beyond consumers. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow announced on Monday that the city will exclusively purchase firetrucks from Canadian companies, shutting U.S. manufacturers out of future contracts.
“When you impose a senseless and hurtful trade war, especially in Toronto, we’re going to fight back,” Chow declared. “We’re gonna keep our elbows up to Trump and say, ‘No way, not a chance, no 51st state.’”
Canadian Businesses Strike Back
The sentiment is also driving creative responses from Canadian businesses. Peace by Chocolate, a Nova Scotia-based company founded by a Syrian refugee family, has launched a special edition “Elbows Up” chocolate bar, symbolizing Canadian defiance. Since its release on March 9, the company has sold thousands of bars, with orders pouring in from 15 countries, according to CEO Tareq Hadhad.
“Peace is something you defend. It’s something you build and protect,” Hadhad said. “That’s what ‘Elbows Up’ means for us — standing firm against forces that try to shake us.”
National Pride in the Face of Tariffs
As tensions escalate, many Canadians see the boycott as more than an economic statement—it’s a declaration of national pride. Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected Trump’s provocative remarks, calling them “disrespectful” and reaffirming that Canada will never be part of the U.S.
Canadians are uniting with a shared message: “When things get tough, Canadians get tougher.”
