Ivan Hansen, a retired Danish police officer, loaded up his basket on the grocery store, fastidiously checking every product to keep away from shopping for something made in the USA. No extra Coca-Cola, no extra California Zinfandel wine or almonds.
The 67-year-old mentioned it is the one manner he is aware of to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s insurance policies. He is livid about Trump’s menace to grab the Danish territory of Greenland, however it’s not simply that. There are additionally the threats to take management of the Panama Canal and Gaza. And Trump’s relationship with Elon Musk, who has far-right ties and made what many interpreted as a straight-armed Nazi salute.
On his latest buying journey, Hansen returned residence with dates from Iran. It shocked him to comprehend that he now perceives the USA as a better menace than Iran.
“Trump really looks like a bully who tries in every way to intimidate, threaten others to get his way,” he told The Associated Press. “I will fight against that kind of thing.”
A rising boycott motion throughout Europe
Hansen is only one supporter of a rising motion throughout Europe and Canada to boycott U.S. merchandise. Individuals are becoming a member of Fb teams the place they alternate concepts about tips on how to keep away from U.S. merchandise and discover options. Emotions are particularly sturdy throughout the Nordic area — and really presumably strongest in Denmark given Trump’s threats to grab Greenland.
Google traits confirmed a spike in searches for the time period “Boycott USA,” and “Boycott America,” as Trump introduced new tariffs, with the highest areas together with Denmark, Canada and France. On the similar time, a world backslash can also be constructing in opposition to Tesla as the model turns into tied to Trump, with plunging gross sales in Europe and Canada. In Germany, police have been investigating after 4 Teslas have been set on hearth Friday.
Elsebeth Pedersen, who lives in Faaborg on the Danish island of Funen, simply purchased a automotive and made a degree of not even U.S.-made choices.
“Before Elon Musk started to act like a maniac a Tesla could have been an option. And maybe a Ford,” she mentioned.
French entrepreneur Romain Roy mentioned his photo voltaic panel agency has purchased a brand new Tesla fleet annually since 2021 however canceled its order for one more 15 to take a stand in opposition to Musk’s and Trump’s insurance policies.
Describing the USA as “a country closing in on itself,” he cited Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris local weather accord and Musk’s arm gestures. He mentioned he was as a substitute shopping for European fashions, though it could price a further 150,000 euros ($164,000).
“Individual consumers, society, our countries, Europe must react,” he informed broadcaster Sud Radio.
Responding to client demand, Denmark’s largest grocery store chain, the Salling Group, created a star-shaped label this month to mark European-made items bought in its shops. CEO Anders Hagh mentioned it is not a boycott, however a response to customers demanding a approach to simply keep away from American merchandise.
“Our stores will continue to have brands on the shelves from all over the world, and it will always be up to customers to choose. The new label is only an additional service for customers who want to buy goods with European labels,” he mentioned in a LinkedIn publish.
‘I have never seen Danes so upset’
For Bo Albertus, “when Trump went on tv and mentioned he would by political pressure or navy pressure take a bit of the Danish kingdom, it was simply an excessive amount of for me.”
The 57-year-old mentioned he felt powerless and needed to do one thing. He has given up Pepsi, Colgate toothpaste, Heinz ketchup and California wine, and changed them with European merchandise.
He’s now an administrator of the Danish Fb web page “Boykot varer fra USA” (Boycott items from the U.S.), which has swelled to over 80,000 members.
“Drink more champagne,” one person posted after Trump threatened 200% tariffs on EU wine and Champagne.
Albertus, a faculty principal, informed the AP he actually misses the sturdy style of Colgate. However he is been pleasantly stunned at discovering a cola substitute that’s half the worth of Pepsi.
Trump’s insurance policies have “brought the Danish Viking blood boiling,” mentioned Jens Olsen, an electrician and carpenter. He’s now contemplating changing $10,000 value of U.S.-made DeWalt energy instruments though it should price him so much.
He has already discovered European replacements for an American popcorn model and California-made Lagunitas IPA beer, which he calls “the best in the world.”
“I’ve visited the brewery several times, but now I don’t buy it anymore,” he mentioned. He has combined emotions as a result of he’s a twin Danish-U.S. citizen, and has spent loads of time in the USA. However he cannot comprise his anger.
“I’m 66 years old and I have never seen the Danes so upset before,” he mentioned.
Michael Ramgil Stæhr has canceled a fall journey to the U.S. and is amongst many selecting to purchase Danish as a substitute of American-made, although he can not pinpoint the precise second he made the choice.
“Maybe it was when (Trump) announced to the world press that he intended to ‘take’ Greenland and the Panama Canal, and if necessary by military force. That and the gangster-like behavior towards the Ukrainian president in the White House,” the 53-year-old Copenhagen resident mentioned.
“The man is deadly dangerous and is already costing lives” within the creating world and Ukraine, added Stæhr, who works serving to disabled struggle veterans, a lot of whom acquired injured serving alongside U.S. troops within the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. He himself served in Bosnia.
Rising anger in France, too
Edouard Roussez, a farmer from northern France, launched a web-based group, “Boycott USA, Buy French and European!” that in simply two weeks has attracted over 20,000 members on Fb.
Roussez believes a boycott of U.S. corporations is an efficient approach to categorical opposition to Trump’s insurance policies, particularly “the commercial and ideological war” he believes Trump is waging in opposition to Europe.
“First of all, these are the companies that financed Donald Trump’s campaign,” he mentioned on state-owned LCP tv channel. “I’m thinking of Airbnb, I’m thinking of Uber, I’m thinking of Tesla of course.”
The irony of all of it? The group is on Fb. Roussez mentioned solely the American on-line social media platform gave him the attain he wanted. However he is working emigrate the group to different platforms with no U.S. funding or capital.
As for any influence on U.S. export income or policymaking, that is unlikely, mentioned Olof Johansson Stenman, a professor of economics on the College of Gothenburg.
The boycott may have a psychological impact on Individuals who see the dimensions of anger, however “some may also say, ‘We don’t like these Europeans anyway,’” Stenman mentioned.
Some selections are more durable than others
Simon Madsen, 54, who lives within the Danish metropolis of Horsens along with his spouse and 13-year-old twins, says the household has given up Pringles, Oreos and Pepsi Max. Not so laborious, actually.
However now they’re discussing doing with out Netflix, and that could be a step too far for the children.
He additionally wonders whether or not he ought to preserve shopping for Danish-made Anthon Berg chocolate marzipan bars, that are made with American almonds.
It is necessary, he mentioned, for folks to make use of the facility of the purse to stress corporations to vary.
“It’s the only weapon we’ve got,” he mentioned.
