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Should we boycott America and American products?

(94 Posts)
Gfplux Fri 21-Feb-25 14:46:58

Now it is clear (well to me it is) that the usa is no longer a friend or ally of Britain and Europe.
What can we do?
One thing everyone can do is boycott America by not visiting and not buying American made products.
I will be making my own personal sacrifice as I have family in Florida and will not be visiting them and supporting the American economy while this new USA exists.

Chocolatelovinggran Fri 21-Feb-25 15:06:57

YesGfplux I've rethought my plans to visit the States this year.
I would welcome some clear labelling to enable me to know which products are American, and which made elsewhere.

Gillycats Fri 21-Feb-25 15:55:26

We definitely need to be boycotting US and China products. We’re long overdue a ‘Buy British’ campaign also. Europe is a substantial trading entity so I’m pretty sure we should be able to just get most of what we need from each other in general. And of course from our true allies also, eg Australasia and Canada. Trump and his mates need to be put back in their boxes in the light of the terrible accusations against Europe and Zelenskyy. I agree with ChocGran that we need clearer labelling to see what country our products come from. We need to stand together on this now because the US cannot be trusted while that buffoon Musk is in charge, and his puppet Trump too.

ronib Fri 21-Feb-25 15:57:43

But imo your family won’t always be there to visit? You may not have good health in future years.
Nutcase governments come and go but blood is more important than politics? Maybe your Florida family will travel here instead?

Grandmabatty Fri 21-Feb-25 15:58:39

I am boycotting American products as much as I can. It's not always obvious, but I'm doing my best to find out where products come from. I won't travel there on holiday either.

Cossy Fri 21-Feb-25 16:00:35

Yes and we won’t be going to the US whilst Trumpy is in charge

CocoPops Fri 21-Feb-25 16:06:48

Thank- you for raising this Gfplux. Here in Canada we have Trump threatening us with tariffs and wanting to make Canada the 51st State so thanks for your support. Many of us have cancelled US trips and are not buying US products.

BigBertha1 Fri 21-Feb-25 16:16:12

I think its far from clear (gfPlux) my focus is buying British wherever I can anyway.

Maremia Fri 21-Feb-25 16:48:48

Anyone on Facebook will be able to see the 'don't buy' campaign for the 28th of February. There are other dates on which to boycot specific retail targets. Purchase power might be the only strength we have.

Grammaretto Fri 21-Feb-25 16:52:42

I love my American cousin who hates the current regime as much, probably more than I do so I would support her and all those who are on the side of the good.

As for boycotting the US:
I have no intention of visiting as I
can't afford to and is there anything we buy from the US? I thought everything is made in China.

HousePlantQueen Fri 21-Feb-25 17:00:45

Cossy

Yes and we won’t be going to the US whilst Trumpy is in charge

Neither will we. I would be too concerned about coming across Maga supporters and being unable to stop myself from pointing out how awful Trump is getting into a heated discussion

Gfplux Fri 21-Feb-25 17:06:13

Grammaretto there are a few obvious products that are made in the USA.

All Coca Cola syrup which is diluted & bottled here.
Some Harley Davidson motorbikes
Some Teslas cars
Many nuts, check the packet.
Perhaps some Orange juices.

Perhaps other people can help add to the list?

NotSpaghetti Fri 21-Feb-25 17:20:02

Wines... lots from the US - especially California

Casdon Fri 21-Feb-25 17:27:46

What makes it more complicated is that a lot of companies we think of as British are not UK owned, so the profits don’t come to the UK, particularly if the manufacturing is also overseas. I’m learning a lot, but it becomes all consuming when you start looking into where food is made, and which company owns it as a subsidiary brand. Checking out product at a time is probably easiest.

Claremont Fri 21-Feb-25 17:30:39

Actively doing so already, but they make it very hard as so many international companies. Cancelled our holiday to Yellowstone. Lost deposit, but just couldn't bear the thought to going there. Many USA friends trying to get out!

M0nica Fri 21-Feb-25 17:37:12

Informaation about British companies owned by the yanks. www.bigissue.com/opinion/britain-economy-america-business-vassal-state/ It is also a review for a book with much more info.

Trump is omplaining that we do not buy American cars. We don't because their cars are far too big for our roads and real gas guzzlers - Fine in the US where petrol is cheap, but not over here where petrol is expensive.

LauraNorderr Fri 21-Feb-25 17:38:43

Starbucks, McDonalds, Amazon, American Express, Goldman Sachs, Uber.

Casdon Fri 21-Feb-25 17:48:52

Somebody on Gransnet recommended a Facebook Group called Buy British Made, which I’ve just joined this week. It has a search feature, with 30,000 British made products on it, which I’m finding really useful.

Churchview Fri 21-Feb-25 17:51:05

Morrisons
Hotel Chocolat
Jaguar
Aston Martin
Cadburys
Kenco coffee
Philadelphia cheese
Dairylea cheese
Terry's chocolates
Maxwell House coffee
Toblerone
Bird's desserts
Suchard chocolates

All owned by American companies. This is an interesting article which shockingly says that 25% of British GDP is made up of sales of 1,256 US multinationals operating in Britain.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/29/britain-great-again-stop-flogging-our-top-companies-to-the-us

petra Fri 21-Feb-25 17:51:56

Gillycats

We definitely need to be boycotting US and China products. We’re long overdue a ‘Buy British’ campaign also. Europe is a substantial trading entity so I’m pretty sure we should be able to just get most of what we need from each other in general. And of course from our true allies also, eg Australasia and Canada. Trump and his mates need to be put back in their boxes in the light of the terrible accusations against Europe and Zelenskyy. I agree with ChocGran that we need clearer labelling to see what country our products come from. We need to stand together on this now because the US cannot be trusted while that buffoon Musk is in charge, and his puppet Trump too.

You will still be buying from China but not directly. 😥
We would all buy more British goods if we could. But manufacturers found they could make a much bigger profit with all that cheap Labour.
It’s not going to change.

mum2three Fri 21-Feb-25 17:53:58

We certainly shouldn't buy American meat. Their welfare standards are well below ours. Most food is clearly labelled so there shouldn't be any confusion about where things have come from.

For those of us who are into crafts, this is a difficult area as America has produced so many of the items we need.. However, I'm sure many British firms will have seen a gap in the market and will be producing their own versions. They will be cheaper too, as there is no import duty to pay.

Casdon Fri 21-Feb-25 17:56:29

I haven’t looked up one foodstuff yet for which there isn’t an alternative UK owned version though Churchview, so we do have the power to tailor our shopping habits - it’s just more time consuming initially checking it all out. I don’t know if it will prove more expensive.

Churchview Fri 21-Feb-25 17:59:20

Totally agree Casdon. I busy finding alternatives.

fancythat Fri 21-Feb-25 18:03:44

Churchview

Morrisons
Hotel Chocolat
Jaguar
Aston Martin
Cadburys
Kenco coffee
Philadelphia cheese
Dairylea cheese
Terry's chocolates
Maxwell House coffee
Toblerone
Bird's desserts
Suchard chocolates

All owned by American companies. This is an interesting article which shockingly says that 25% of British GDP is made up of sales of 1,256 US multinationals operating in Britain.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/29/britain-great-again-stop-flogging-our-top-companies-to-the-us

More goods than I thought.

From google
The United Kingdom imports many goods from the United States, including machinery, fuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
Machinery and transport equipment mechanical power generators, aircraft, cars, and engines.
Fuels crude oil and natural gas

fancythat Fri 21-Feb-25 18:05:17

Not sure how much of that lot, the average Gransnetter can avoid.

As I wrote on a different thread I think, I needed to read all the labels of my clothes[medical condition].
There may have been 1 item made in the USA?
Not sure we import that many clothes form the USA.