I don't disagree with your POV but there is a lot to unpack here.
First off, I think we all understand that Trump's rhetoric is mostly just talk. But at the same time its talk from the most powerful person on the planet (apologies to Elon) so at a certain level it must be taken seriously. If you compare what we all thought of what he would do in 2016 vs now, its not hard to see that even if he does not follow through on every specific promise, we have to be concerned about the direction he and his merry band of idiots is taking things. Furthermore, we don't have the numbers yet, but its very likely that the threats of tariffs alone have pushed Canada's economy into recession territory. My business, for example, has had roughly 40% of the orders we had booked for this year cancelled and that is before a single tariff has been charged. Continued threats alone will force me to lay off hard working people.
Secondly, I would much prefer if it were possible to target my response directly against those who enabled this disaster, but such a thing is really not possible in any meaningful way. So I have the choice, do something symbolic or do something that may have meaning but also may inflict some collateral damage. I've chosen the latter because its really the only tool I have. I fully understand that my efforts, even if duplicated by people right across Canada will have, at best, a limited effect on the american behemoth and can not even compare to the hellstorm that is coming our way in return. So I don't feel too bad about it, its not like anyone is going to die or lose their homes from my actions. Additionally, as I said earlier, america is not discriminating about whose lives will be ruined here, so why should I be expected to exercise discretion about who faces minor setbacks there? Its the equivilent of america sending a barrage of artillery my way and you're asking me to make sure the mosquito I send in return only bites someone who deserves it.
Even if every Canadian boycotted every american product they could (which is never going to happen given we have our share of conservative nutbags too), the net effect would be maybe 30% of american companies having a 10% drop in sales. Its a trifiling response.
Finally, even a blanket boycott is extremely difficult. I am in a better position than most people here to know what is made where, at least in the food industry that my business serves, and its difficult even for me to devine what is american and what is not. Canada and america have been enjoying the mutual benefits of free trade for 30 years now and the supply chains have become so integrated that a majority of products in the grocery store are not canadian or american but somewhere in between. Consider that Tomatoes grown in Leamington, ON cross the border into Michigan and are made into ketchup which is then brought back and sold here. Onions grown in the US are processed into frozen onion rings by a company here. Frito Lay has several plants in Canada that employ thousands of Canadians and make snacks from Canadian grown potatos and corn but being an american brand, the profits all flow back to the US. Are those Canadian or american products? The answer is both. So the number of truly american products that are even worth boycotting is vanishingly small.
There are no perfect answers here. All I know is I am living through a situation that is unprecedented in my lifetime and I'm trying to feel my way through it and do whatever I can to assuage my rising anger in the best way possible. I hope you can understand that.
