Boo the anthem, drop the booze: How Canadians are fighting back against US tariffs in Trump's new trade war

Canada has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the U.S.'s imposition of tariffs, with calls to boycott American products emerging on social media, along with videos of sports fans booing the U.S. national anthem at games. As Donald Trump ordered tariffs of up to 25% on Canadian goods, social media users urged people to avoid purchasing American products like whiskey and fruit, opting instead for Canadian alternatives.

Canada is the largest export market for 36 U.S. states, while Mexico is the United States' largest trading partner. Despite Trump's threat to further raise tariffs if retaliatory tariffs are imposed on American goods, both countries have implemented tariff measures. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated late Saturday, "We certainly don't want escalation, but we will defend Canadian interests."

Government departments in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia are planning to remove American alcohol brands from the shelves of government-run stores. For instance, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) sells nearly $1 billion of American wine, beer, spirits, and soda annually, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford noted on Sunday. “That will no longer be the case,” Mr. Ford said in a statement, “Starting Tuesday, we will be removing American products from LCBO shelves.” As the province's sole alcohol wholesaler, the board's actions will prevent restaurants and retailers in Ontario from ordering or restocking American products.

Beyond the official responses, people are already considering how to react to Trump's decision, including sharing suggestions for alternatives to American products on social media. Trudeau directly addressed Americans, saying the tariffs "will have real consequences for you." A sense of betrayal from Canada's closest ally has also triggered reactions beyond politics, with sports fans indicating they anticipate feeling the economic impact of Trump's tariffs. On Saturday night, Canadian hockey fans booed the U.S. national anthem at two National Hockey League games. The booing continued on Sunday at the Toronto Raptors' NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers. One Raptors fan chose to sit during the anthem while wearing a Canadian hat. Importer Joseph Tsai stated that he expects to feel the impact of the tariffs "directly." "I always stand for both anthems. I take my hat off out of respect for the American anthem, but today we're a little upset about things," he said, adding that he will start avoiding American products.

Trump stated that the tariffs are intended to compel these countries to do more to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., and also to pressure Canada and Mexico to limit illegal immigration into the United States. A White House fact sheet on the tariffs said they would remain in effect "until the crisis is mitigated," but did not elaborate on what actions the three countries would need to take to achieve relief. Trump posted on his Truth Social account, citing undocumented immigration and drug flows as the reasons for the tariffs. "I promised when I ran to stop the flow of illegal immigration and drugs at our border, and the American people overwhelmingly voted for that promise," he wrote.

A senior government official said on Sunday that Canada would take legal action under relevant international bodies to challenge the U.S.'s 25% tariffs on most Canadian goods, calling them illegal and unjustified. The official said that the Canadian government believes Trump's actions are illegal and stated that they violate trade commitments made by both countries under free trade agreements and the World Trade Organization. "If there are other legal avenues that can be utilized, we will also look at that," the official said.