Here’s something that might surprise you: more than half of Canadians are still actively avoiding American products, even as we head into 2026. And honestly? The numbers tell a pretty stark story about where our relationship with our southern neighbours is heading.
A new poll from Research Co. Shows that 55% of Canadians are deliberately steering clear of U.S. Goods amid ongoing tariff tensions. That’s not just a number on a spreadsheet. That’s your neighbour choosing Canadian maple syrup over Vermont’s, or picking up a bottle of Iceberg beer instead of Budweiser.
The sovereignty question hits different now
What really gets me is how deep this goes beyond just shopping habits.
A separate Nanos survey found that the majority of Canadians are genuinely concerned about potential threats to our sovereignty from the U.S. Can you imagine? We’re talking about concerns that would have seemed almost absurd just a few years ago.
The polling data paints a picture of a country that’s fundamentally rethinking its relationship with America. When you look at the headlines coming out of various publications, it makes sense. Related: GTA Digs Out After Messy Winter Storm Hits With Triple Threat
The relationship between Canada and the United States has shifted in ways that would have been unthinkable just a decade ago.
Business in Vancouver’s Mario Canseco has been tracking these consumer behaviour shifts, and the persistence of the boycott is telling. We’re not talking about a knee-jerk reaction that faded after a few weeks. This is sustained, deliberate choice-making by Canadian consumers.
Food security becomes a real concern
But here’s where it gets really interesting. The Globe and Mail has been highlighting how our reliance on American food imports might actually be setting us up for problems down the road. When you’re avoiding American goods but still depend on them for basic necessities, that creates some pretty uncomfortable contradictions.
Think about it: you might be choosing Canadian-made products at the grocery store, but chances are some of your fresh produce still crossed the border. The reality is our food systems are so intertwined that completely untangling them isn’t exactly realistic for most families. Related: Thorold man charged with theft from local businesses
The political undertones
The Walrus has been diving into what they’re calling the broader implications of American political shifts, and how that’s influencing Canadian perspectives. Without getting too deep into the weeds, there’s clearly a sense that the political climate south of the border is affecting how we see ourselves and our place in North America.
I’ll be real with you: this isn’t just about trade policies or diplomatic tensions.
There’s something deeper happening here about Canadian identity and how we define ourselves in relation to our biggest trading partner.
What this means for everyday life
So what does this actually look like in practice? Well, if you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you might have noticed more Canadian flags on packaging. Companies are definitely picking up on consumer sentiment and marketing accordingly.
Local businesses are seeing benefits too. Canadian-made alternatives that might have been overlooked before are getting a second look from consumers who are actively trying to shop local or at least shop non-American.
But the flip side is real too. Some products just don’t have Canadian alternatives, or they’re significantly more expensive. Families are having to make choices about where to draw their lines.
The long game
Here’s the thing that’s really striking about all this: it’s not just reactive politics. The polling suggests this shift in sentiment has some staying power. People aren’t just mad about a particular policy or politician. They’re questioning the fundamental relationship.
As someone who’s watched Canadian-American relations for years, this feels different. More personal. More lasting.
The question becomes whether this is a temporary rough patch that will smooth over with time and changing circumstances, or if we’re looking at a more permanent shift in how Canadians see America and Americans. And isn’t that the real story here?
What you can do with this information
If you’re someone who’s been thinking about your own purchasing choices, the data suggests you’re not alone. More than half the country is making similar decisions.
Whether that influences your shopping habits is entirely up to you. But it’s worth being aware that this isn’t just individual choice anymore. It’s become a broader economic and political statement that’s actually measurable in polling data.
The reality is that consumer choices, when they happen at this scale, do have real economic impacts. And those economic impacts have political implications too.
What’s clear is that the relationship between Canada and the United States is evolving in real time, and ordinary Canadians are playing a bigger role in shaping that evolution than they might realize.
