Should we boycott America and American products?

I use Meridian peanut butter, which is made in the UK and owned by a Northern Irish company. I swapped over ages ago, because it’s one of the few that doesn’t contain palm oil, so it’s a bonus it’s made here.

'No'. Obviously not!

Grammaretto

We used to try to boycott SA goods during apartheid. Did it change anything?

Is SA an apartheid state now? No.

I think that international disapproval (especially cutting sporting links) did help.

Me too casdon and I buy more than half my food in our community shop which is fairtrade, organic, local, home grown etc

I am sorry about almonds though, they all seem to come from the USA.

I try to buy French or NZ wine from places close to my heart.

Churchview

Oreo

Am not sure that I would boycott anything from the US even if I did buy a product unknowingly from there.DT won’t be in position longer than a few years and why hurt US business even if we could?Not that buying a packet of biscuits now and then helps them all that much in my case.

Trump and his supporters (see Steve Bannon at CPAC) are already putting the idea of re-election out there...Trump portraying himself as King. Even if he's only in his post for a few years just think of what chaos he can cause.

Old man Trump also said during the campaign
“Vote for me this time and you will never need to vote again”

Dont laugh at this man, he means everything he says.

Grammaretto

OK so there are plenty of American owned British companies.
I don't think anything mentioned so far would be anything I'd buy, except maybe chocolate 🤔

Medication is the big one!

Along with DH and myself I’m sure there’s many of us in here who cannot give up their meds!

Hard to work out where they come from! medicines are going both ways

"In 2023, the UK's main sources of pharmaceutical imports were the United States, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, and Belgium.

The UK's main destinations for pharmaceutical exports were the United States, Germany, Ireland, France, and China.

You would really need time on your hands and dedication to the cause to find out and avoid buying from US owned companies when you do your shopping.
So to answer the OP, there is no ‘should’ about it, just up to the individual person.

Grammaretto

Me too casdon and I buy more than half my food in our community shop which is fairtrade, organic, local, home grown etc

I am sorry about almonds though, they all seem to come from the USA.

I try to buy French or NZ wine from places close to my heart.

The problem is, by boycotting foods such as almonds and California prunes, it could damage small farmers whose farms may have been in the families for generations.

The big boys who are supporting Trump will be unaffected by this kind of boycott.

It’s the only sanction we have within our power though Allira, so if that does happen, although I’m sorry for the small farmers, their issue is actually with Trump rather than those who boycott American goods.

Churchview

Totally agree Casdon. I busy finding alternatives.

Well at least one of the above facts is wrong.
Jaguar landrover are owned by Tata an Indian company based in Mumbai.

petra

Churchview

Totally agree Casdon. I busy finding alternatives.

Well at least one of the above facts is wrong.
Jaguar landrover are owned by Tata an Indian company based in Mumbai.

Jaguar are indeed owned by Tata.

I have a six year old Jaguar E Pace. It was made in Austria.

This is a disappointment.
I was going to buy Heinz Beans to day but did not thinking I should find out where the beans come from.
From Google
“Using haricot beans, Heinz rehydrates the legumes that are grown in North America. A secret mixture of spices is added to the can, before machine distributes the sauce. The beans are then steamed with the sauce inside the sealed can to preserve their nutrients.”

So no more Heinz beans for me.

products from usa is not trumps
venders cant control the idiot

he will keep mcds up any running and the fake tan companys

Yes Allira organic almonds from a small farm are unlikely to be grown by big business, Trump supporters.
We are in danger of hurting those we want to help.

All is not lost for beans lovers. Red beans those that you add to chilly can come from somewhere NOT the usa.

Checking my store cupboard I found that the French brand D’aucy clearly marked on the tin Cultivés en France
Translates as grown in France.

Check the choices on the shelves at your local supermarket.

I suppose we could boycott Facebook, Whattsapp, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, KFC, Twitter/X (especially) Netflix, Disney, MGM and all the other US companies

We won’t will we!.

I shall carry on buying products which I like as usual, regardless of whether they come from the US, and using Amazon. Listening to the ramblings and ridiculous, dangerous comments of Trump, Vance, Musk et al is bad enough without cutting off my nose to spite my face, and maybe punishing American producers who are not Trump supporters. I have no plans to visit the US again in the near future, but if I had family there I certainly wouldn’t refuse to go simply because of Trump.

All any ordinary person can do is to take small steps and hope that others follow.

The global economy has evolved to such an extent that, short of going to live in the woods, we cannot help but be part of it. I may loathe the way that the water industry has evolved to prioritise shareholders but I still need it to supply me with fresh water and deal with my waste.

It’s easy to not use many of the brands you name. Nobody needs Meta or Musk apps or fast food outlets or streaming channels.

But many services now are digital by default so, unless we are to self-exclude we do need some form of digital device and the ability to buy essential goods when local supply isn’t an option.

What a daft idea this is, if it’s meant to be taken seriously of course.

How far would you take this?
AfD is expected to do very well in the German election today.
Does that mean everyone is expected to get rid of their BMW and Mercedes cars?

JenniferEccles

What a daft idea this is, if it’s meant to be taken seriously of course.

How far would you take this?
AfD is expected to do very well in the German election today.
Does that mean everyone is expected to get rid of their BMW and Mercedes cars?

What an interesting point of view.

This is simple and straight forward. We are being directly threatened by the usa.
So the question is, what can ordinary normal people do about it.
It is doing the small simple things.

If you want to discuss boycotting countries like Burma or China. Thats is for another thread.

When the ordinary people stand by and do nothing, like you, then society is in a bad place.

JenniferEccles

What a daft idea this is, if it’s meant to be taken seriously of course.

How far would you take this?
AfD is expected to do very well in the German election today.
Does that mean everyone is expected to get rid of their BMW and Mercedes cars?

There are many millions of people in the world taking this ‘daft idea’ to express disapproval of the Trump regime very seriously JenniferEccles. Our individual moral compasses take us in different directions.

JenniferEccles

What a daft idea this is, if it’s meant to be taken seriously of course.

How far would you take this?
AfD is expected to do very well in the German election today.
Does that mean everyone is expected to get rid of their BMW and Mercedes cars?

Germany isn't threatening a tariff war with us.

Please respect other posters POV even if you don't agree - no need to put them down.

There is nothing wrong with my moral compass

Boycotting USA goods will not benefit its citizens, it will give an excuse and encourage POTUS to become even more isolationist.

I can imagine POTUS Trumps reaction all the silly little foreigners are just being mean to USA, so I will be meaner

I completely agree GG - and my moral compass is functioning well too.