Ivan Hansen, a retired Danish police officer, loaded up his basket on the grocery store, rigorously checking every product to keep away from shopping for something made in the US. No extra Coca-Cola, no extra California Zinfandel wine or almonds.
The 67-year-old stated it is the one method he is aware of to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s insurance policies. He is livid about Trump’s threat to seize the Danish territory of Greenland, nevertheless 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 current procuring journey, Hansen returned dwelling with dates from Iran. It shocked him to understand that he now perceives the US as a higher risk than Iran.
“Trump actually seems to be like a bully who tries in each option to intimidate, threaten others to get his method,” he informed The Related Press. “I’ll combat in opposition to that sort of factor.”
Hansen is only one supporter of a rising motion throughout Europe and Canada to boycott U.S. merchandise. Persons are becoming a member of Fb teams the place they alternate concepts about methods to keep away from U.S. merchandise and discover alternate options. Emotions are particularly robust throughout the Nordic area — and really probably strongest in Denmark given Trump’s threats to seize Greenland.
Google developments 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 identical time, a world backslash can also be constructing in opposition to Tesla as the brand becomes tied to Trump, with plunging gross sales in Europe and Canada. In Germany, police had been investigating after 4 Teslas had been set on fireplace Friday.
Elsebeth Pedersen, who lives in Faaborg on the Danish island of Funen, simply purchased a automobile and made a degree of not even taking a look at U.S.-made choices.
“Earlier than Elon Musk began to behave like a maniac a Tesla might have been an choice. And possibly a Ford,” she stated.
French entrepreneur Romain Roy stated his photo voltaic panel agency has purchased a brand new Tesla fleet every year 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 US as “a rustic closing in on itself,” he cited Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris local weather accord and Musk’s arm gestures. He stated he was as a substitute shopping for European fashions, though it might price an extra 150,000 euros ($164,000).
“Particular person shoppers, society, our international locations, Europe should 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 offered in its shops. CEO Anders Hagh stated it isn’t a boycott, however a response to shoppers demanding a option to simply keep away from American merchandise.
“Our shops will proceed to have manufacturers on the cabinets from everywhere in the world, and it’ll at all times be as much as prospects to decide on. The brand new label is just an extra service for patrons who wish to purchase items with European labels,” he stated in a LinkedIn publish.
For Bo Albertus, “when Trump went on tv and stated he would by political drive or navy drive take a bit of the Danish kingdom, it was simply an excessive amount of for me.”
The 57-year-old stated 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 extra champagne,” one consumer posted after Trump threatened 200% tariffs on EU wine and Champagne.
Albertus, a college principal, informed the AP he actually misses the robust style of Colgate. However he is been pleasantly stunned at discovering a cola substitute that’s half the value of Pepsi.
Trump’s insurance policies have “introduced the Danish Viking blood boiling,” stated Jens Olsen, an electrician and carpenter. He’s now contemplating changing $10,000 value of U.S.-made DeWalt energy instruments though it is going to price him rather a lot.
He has already discovered European replacements for an American popcorn model and California-made Lagunitas IPA beer, which he calls “the very best on the planet.”
“I’ve visited the brewery a number of occasions, however now I don’t purchase it anymore,” he stated. He has blended emotions as a result of he’s a twin Danish-U.S. citizen, and has spent a whole lot of time in the US. However he cannot comprise his anger.
“I’m 66 years outdated and I’ve by no means seen the Danes so upset earlier than,” he stated.
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’t pinpoint the precise second he made the choice.
“Perhaps it was when (Trump) introduced to the world press that he meant to ‘take’ Greenland and the Panama Canal, and if crucial by navy drive. That and the gangster-like conduct in direction of the Ukrainian president within the White Home,” the 53-year-old Copenhagen resident stated.
“The person is lethal harmful and is already costing lives” within the creating world and Ukraine, added Stæhr, who works serving to disabled battle veterans, a lot of whom received injured serving alongside U.S. troops within the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. He himself served in Bosnia.
Edouard Roussez, a farmer from northern France, launched a web based group, “Boycott USA, Purchase 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 option to specific opposition to Trump’s insurance policies, particularly “the industrial and ideological battle” he believes Trump is waging in opposition to Europe.
“To begin with, these are the businesses that financed Donald Trump’s marketing campaign,” he stated on state-owned LCP tv channel. “I’m considering of Airbnb, I’m considering of Uber, I’m considering of Tesla in fact.”
The irony of all of it? The group is on Fb. Roussez stated 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, stated Olof Johansson Stenman, a professor of economics on the College of Gothenburg.
The boycott might have a psychological impact on People who see the size of anger, however “some may additionally say, ‘We don’t like these Europeans anyway,’” Stenman stated.
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 may 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 essential, he stated, for folks to make use of the facility of the purse to strain corporations to vary.
“It’s the one weapon we’ve received,” he stated.
____
AP writers Stefanie Dazio in Berlin, John Leicester and Samuel Petrequin in Paris, and Laurie Kellman in London contributed.
