After Trump Tariffs ‘Buy Canadian’ Sentiment Grows At Expense Of US Firms

India-West News Desk

NEW YORK, NY – The growing “Buy Canadian” movement is causing concern among U.S. consumer companies that rely on selling their products in Canada. As patriotic shopping gains momentum, some American firms report that retailers are increasingly hesitant to stock their goods.

Parasol Co., a California-based diaper company, had been working with a distributor since January to expand sales in Canada, including to convenience stores, CEO Jessica Hung told Reuters. However, in early March, the distributor—whom Hung declined to name—abruptly halted the deal, citing rising anti-American sentiment.

This shift in Canadian retail underscores the impact of patriotic consumerism in a country that imported nearly $350 billion worth of U.S. goods in 2024, making the United States its largest trading partner, Reuters reported.

The movement has been fueled in part by U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade stance, including calls to annex Canada, the imposition of a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum, and threats to impose broader trade restrictions. In response, many Canadian shoppers have pledged to avoid U.S.-made products.

Parasol, which primarily sells online and at Target stores in the U.S., had been working on French-language packaging for the Canadian market, Hung said. She had also begun selecting which products would be included in the now-abandoned expansion plan.

The impact of “Buy Canadian” extends beyond baby products, affecting U.S. beverage and agricultural exports as well. In March, Jack Daniel’s maker Brown-Forman criticized the removal of American bourbon and whiskey from Canadian liquor stores, calling it a stronger blow than Canada’s retaliatory tariffs against Trump’s levies.

A source familiar with California’s citrus exports told Reuters that Canadian retailers have canceled orders. Meanwhile, GT’s Living Foods, known for its Synergy kombucha, reported that major Canadian retailers, including Walmart, have been scaling back their purchases due to tariff-related uncertainty. Walmart stated that it “will continue to work closely with suppliers to find the best way forward during these uncertain times.”

The movement has also stalled expansion plans for smaller businesses. Demeter Fragrances, a Pennsylvania-based, family-run perfume company, has put its 2025 Canadian expansion on hold amid shifting retail dynamics.