Calls for a boycott of American goods and the United States itself have circulated on social media following President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on countries around the world.
Why It Matters
Trump announced the tariffs on Wednesday, what he dubbed “Liberation Day.” The plan included a universal 10 percent tariff on all imports from countries and higher tariffs on dozens of others.
The administration expects the new rates to remain in place until the U.S. narrows a $1.2 trillion trade imbalance recorded last year. However, the list of tariffs will also threaten to upend the U.S. economy, as many economists say they amount to taxes on American companies that will be passed down to consumers.
Wall Street opened noticeably lower on Thursday as global markets dropped following Trump’s tariff announcement. The move has escalated trade tensions with major economies, and some countries are warning of retaliation.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
What To Know
Following the announcement, the term “BoycottUSA” has trended on X (formerly Twitter), and Google searches for it have skyrocketed.
According to Google Search Data, people in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, India, Australia, and New Zealand are searching for “Boycott USA.”
People are searching for specific queries such as “us products to boycott,” “list of American products to boycott,” “American brands to boycott,” and “how to boycott American products.”
Canadian author Jeffrey Luscombe posted Monday on X: “We cancelled our Florida holiday we booked for last month. Decided to stay in Canada. Heard some other Canadians did the same. 🇨🇦 #ElbowsUpCanada #ElbowsUp #BoycottUSA #GlovesOff #CanadaStrong.”
Another person posted on X: “I will NEVER visit the USA again. Wherever possible, I’m boycotting American goods and companies.”
A recent report from the research firm Tourism Economics said that travel to the U.S. is projected to decline by 5.5 percent in 2025.
It’s not the first time since Trump’s January inauguration that the term “Boycott USA” has trended online. In March, searches surged in the European Union and Canada following tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China.
What People Are Saying
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: “President Trump’s announcement of universal tariffs on the whole world, including the EU is a major blow to the world economy.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba: “The U.S. government’s broad trade restrictions will have a significant impact not only on the economic relationship between Japan and the U.S., but also on the global economy and the multilateral trading system as a whole.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney: “We are going to fight these tariffs with countermeasures, we are going to protect our workers, and we are going to build the strongest economy in the G7.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer: “Nobody wins in a trade war. That is not in our national interest. And we have a fair and balanced trade relationship with the US.”
China Commerce Ministry: “China firmly opposes this and will take countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests.”
What Happens Next
A 25 percent tariff on “all foreign-made automobiles” will take effect on April 3. The 10 percent “baseline” tariffs will take effect on April 5, and the reciprocal tariffs will kick in on April 9.
