Should we boycott America and American products?

My moral compass is keeping it simple. I will buy an alternative to any obviously American made food or drink and won't be going there again on holiday. Small and some say silly gestures but it makes me feel better and that makes a difference to my anxiety over how Trump is wielding his considerable power.

GrannyGravy13

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^

Remember this is what appeasement to a dictator looks like.

Neville Chamberlain returns from Germany with the Munich Agreement. 30th September 1938

PamelaJ1

If only if all products had an obvious label on them. It may not stop us buying from countries we don’t agree with but it might make us think about our purchases.
Allira your Japanese car could have been made in the U.K.

France, in Valenciennes I think, although it doesn't have a Made in France stamp.
Perhaps everything should be stamped visibly. I do find myself squinting at the small print on the back of packaging to see where smaller items are made.

Casdon

It’s not easy avoiding American foods, and even harder avoiding foods made by American owned investment companies. It’s a work in progress for me, I’m not going mad, just checking out a few items before I go shopping and buying an alternative brand if it’s made in the UK or Europe. I also avoid China, I’m trying to buy British/European as far as I can for everything. I’m an Apple client though, and I’ve accepted that is something I won’t be changing, there isn’t anything else as good for me.
I’ve got a German car too, which I’m about to change, so although in my opinion they make the best cars, I would change it for something different if the AfD get the most votes, which looks unlikely. That would be something I’d find very hard to do.

The AFD wont win , even if they get more votes than anticipated no one will form a coalition with them There have been huge protests in most major cities in Germany against the AFD . It is usually those from eastern Germany that would vote for the AFD.
Regards , boycotting USA as an American I would support it to show Trump that the world cares . I don’t like buying American almonds because the almond trees are bad for the environment .

If only if all products had an obvious label on them. It may not stop us buying from countries we don’t agree with but it might make us think about our purchases.
Allira your Japanese car could have been made in the U.K.

Grammaretto

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

I think so.
And the Barclays boycott and Rothmans cigarettes...
www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/23/israel-apartheid-boycotts-sanctions-south-africa

Also (not SA) there was the Baby Milk Action campaign which certainly changed Nestlé (for a while) - especially the coffee boycott.
The Nestlé campaign changed the way I've shopped forever. I have never knowingly bought a Nestlé product since.

Curlywhirly

For what it's worth, there's talk about lots of people (here and abroad) boycotting Amazon for 1 day, (I think it's 28 Feb?). It won't make much difference to them, but it will show how many people aren't happy with Bezos' support for Trump. I have also heard mention that the owner of Airbnb is a big supporter of Trump and people are urged to try not to book with this company.

What’s the point? They will just buy on 27 Feb or 1 March instead! Bezos doesn’t give a damn how many people disapprove of his support for Trump.

Galaxy

Oh I cant follow that example, I havent got the energy to be swapping my German dad at this stage of his life

😁

Not sure where my Japanese car was made, could be France.

With globalisation it's difficult to know what is made where.

Oh I cant follow that example, I havent got the energy to be swapping my German dad at this stage of his life

It’s not easy avoiding American foods, and even harder avoiding foods made by American owned investment companies. It’s a work in progress for me, I’m not going mad, just checking out a few items before I go shopping and buying an alternative brand if it’s made in the UK or Europe. I also avoid China, I’m trying to buy British/European as far as I can for everything. I’m an Apple client though, and I’ve accepted that is something I won’t be changing, there isn’t anything else as good for me.
I’ve got a German car too, which I’m about to change, so although in my opinion they make the best cars, I would change it for something different if the AfD get the most votes, which looks unlikely. That would be something I’d find very hard to do.

I was just pointing out that any boycott will punish the ordinary citizens, I doubt POTUS, Musk, and those at the top will suffer.
My point too, GrannyGravy13

Casdon I support the local farm shop, local butchers etc.,

Avoid buying from China wherever possible, I will not give up my Apple products especially as I have recently purchased a new iPhone and iPad.

I honestly do not know what other purchases (excluding TV streaming services) I buy/have bought from USA.

I will now look just out of curiosity, but I always try my hardest to buy British.

Whatever happens in the German elections today, no way will I give up my German car.

For what it's worth, there's talk about lots of people (here and abroad) boycotting Amazon for 1 day, (I think it's 28 Feb?). It won't make much difference to them, but it will show how many people aren't happy with Bezos' support for Trump. I have also heard mention that the owner of Airbnb is a big supporter of Trump and people are urged to try not to book with this company.

I know it will affect ordinary people in USA GrannyGravy13, and I am sorry that is the case. However, the only language Trump, Musk et al understand is money, and if by my actions I can influence that, albeit marginally, I will, even though the inconvenience and extra costs of alternatives will be mine to bear too. I’m trying hard to support the UK and Europe at the expense of the USA though, which will benefit our own economy. We must all do what we must do on this I think.

Casdon I am not critical of those who are actively boycotting USA goods and/or services.

I was just pointing out that any boycott will punish the ordinary citizens, I doubt POTUS, Musk, and those at the top will suffer.

They will use it to their advantage though.

I am not ready to sacrifice Netflix, Kids Utube or Disney, I have the GC too often.

I think some of you underestimate how big this movement is.
www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2025/02/03/canadian-travel-boycott-of-usa-2-billion/
Canadians are boycotting USA goods and services en masse. It’s not just in the UK, and it is going to impact on the US economy.
We must all do as we feel we should, so I don’t understand why those of you who don’t want to do this are critical of those who do. What happened to live and let live?

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

Ordinary People are more concerned with paying the rent and feeding the family everything else “someone else” can pay for

I doubt a few nannas would make any difference whatsoever really. The vast majority of Americans are decent people as are the vast majority of British people and it is silly to punish them. I think it is good that the war in the Ukraine now looks as though it is coming to an end and in this I would support Trump so long as the Ukraine can come to some agreement with the Russians. Under Biden it would have gone on and on and more and more would have died.

Your moral compass takes you in a different direction was what I said GrannyGravy13, not that there was anything wrong with it? We all act according to our belief systems, and if some of us choose to exercise our right to choose not to support America whilst Trump is in power, that is up to us.

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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?