Avoiding US goods and services – from tech to whisky to air travel – has forced many to find a new way of living

Avoiding US goods and services – from tech to whisky to air travel – has forced many to find a new way of living

This week the US imposed 50% tariffs on US$20bn (£15bn) of Canadian goods, and Mark Carney, the country’s prime minister, has vowed to match them “dollar for dollar” after the collapse of trade talks between the two countries last weekend. Donald Trump retaliated on Thursday by ordering the federal government to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.

Such actions have added fuel to a widespread boycott of US products and services by Canadians that began early last year in response to the president’s trade war and threats to annex his northern neighbour.

More than 3,500 people from across Canada shared with the Guardian via an online callout how they have made changes to their lives in response to the US administration’s political and economic stance. Many expressed deep anger and sadness, but remained resolute that this was now a new way of living.

  • VelvetPinkOtter123@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    15 days ago

    I would, but I can’t just cross the border and declare myself a citizen of another country

    So, no, I’m not. I’m kind of stuck here

    Trust me, if England or Canada or Australia or Switzerland or France or Germany, etc… said I was free to live there for the rest of my life, I’d start packing my shit tonight

    • Ann Archy@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      15 days ago

      Forget Switzerland. You can’t afford it. Also they are very weird. You know, isolation does things to people.

      • VelvetPinkOtter123@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        15 days ago

        My age is a bit of a factor

        I also have a family so it’s not just me

        I’ve looked. Nothing too crazy but I’ve explored the idea of getting my child out of a part of the world where people think teachers should have guns

          • VelvetPinkOtter123@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            15 days ago

            I’m trying to go to England, not Singapore. Pretty sure they don’t need Americans to teach the English how to speak English

              • VelvetPinkOtter123@lemmy.worldEnglish
                0·
                15 days ago

                You said I could go teach English. To who? The English in England? Scotland? Ireland? Canada? Australia?

                I’m trying to move to a place where they already speak English, dipshit

              • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
                0·
                15 days ago

                YOU CAN NOT LEAVE AMERICA AND DENOUNCE YOUR CITIZENSHIP, STOP PAYING TAXES WHILE ABROAD (a thing unique to the states), OR BECOME NOT AN AMERICAN WITHOUT BECOMING STATELESS.

                Saying you are “free to leave” is not really telling the whole story now is it? The fact that we need it in all caps might just get the concept though.

            • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
              0·
              15 days ago

              Don’t tell them that, they likely think that they do. They also seem to think a temp job overseas is the same as emigrating.

                • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
                  0·
                  15 days ago

                  Troll bot, ha. you did not work 10 years on the same contract, I do know how at least that much works.

      • Ann Archy@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        14 days ago

        I upvoted everything and everyone in this thread for the record. Keep fighting, it’s a good fight and makes me think.

    • ranzispa@mander.xyzEnglish
      0·
      14 days ago

      Know plenty Americans who stay 3 months in Schengen and 3 months in Ireland/Serbia. They go back and forth not to surpass the tourist visa limit indefinitely.

      But that’s mostly because they want to keep working in the US remotely. Otherwise, you can just get a job elsewhere and generally it’s not to difficult to get a residency permit with a job.