Ivan Hansen, a retired Danish police officer, loaded his basket in the supermarket, carefully checking each product to avoid buying anything done in the United States. No more Coca-Cola, no more wine or almonds of California Zinfandel.
The 67 -year -old man said it is the only way he knows how to protest the policies of the president of the United States, Donald Trump,. Is furious for Trump’s threat of seizing the Danish territory of GreenlandBut it’s not just that. There are also threats to take control of The Panama Canal and Loop. And Trump’s relationship with Elon Musk, which has extreme right ties and did what many interpreted as Nazi greeting with straight arms.
On his recent shopping trip, Hansen returned home with Iran dates. He was surprised to realize that he now perceives the United States as a major threat that will go.
“Trump really looks like a thug that tries in every way to intimidate, threaten others to get his out,” he told The Associated Press. “I will fight against such things.”
Hansen is just a defender of a growing movement in Europe and Canada to boycott US products. People join Facebook groups where they exchange ideas on how to avoid products of us and find alternatives. Feelings are especially strong throughout the Nordic region, and possibly stronger in Den Trump’s threats to seize Greenland.
Google Trends showed an increase in searches for the term “Boicot USA” and “Boicott America”, as Trump announced new tariffs, with the main regions, including Denmark, Canada and France. At the same time, a global insecure bar is also being built against Tesla as The brand is linked to TrumpWith sales in Europe and Canada. In Germany, the police were investigating after four Teslas were burned on Friday.
Elsebeth Pedersen, who lives in Faorm on the Danish island of Funen, has just bought a car and set out not to look at the options made by the United States.
“Before Elon Musk began acting like a mana, a Tesla could have been an option. And maybe a ford, ”he said.
French businessman Romain Roy said his solar panel firm has bought a new Fleet of Tesla every year since 2021, but canceled his order so that another 15 take a position against Musk and Trump’s policies.
When describing the United States as “a country that approaches itself,” said Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and Musk’s arm gestures. He said he was buying European models, although it would cost 150,000 euros additional ($ 164,000).
“Individual consumers, society, our countries, Europe must react,” Sud Radio radio told the issuer.
Responding to the demand for the consumer, the largest supermarket chain in Denmark, the Salling Group, created a star -shaped label this month to mark the European manufacturing goods sold in its stores. CEO Anders Hagh said it is not a boycott, but an answer to consumers who demand a way to easily avoid US products.
“Our stores will continue to have brands on the shelves around the world, and will always depend on customers to choose. The new label is just an additional service for customers who want to buy products with European labels, ”he said in a LinkedIn post.
For Bo Albertus, “when Trump went on television and said that by political force or military force he would take a piece of the Danish kingdom, it was too much for me.”
The 57 -year -old man said he felt helpless and had to do something. He has resigned from Pepsi, Colgate Tooth Pasta, Heinz Ketchup and California Wine, and replaced them with European products.
He is now an administrator of the Danish Facebook page “Boykot Verr Fra USA”.
“Drink more champagne,” a user published after Trump threatened with 200% of the EU’s wine and champagne.
Albertus, director of the school, told AP that it really misses the strong flavor of Colgate. But it has been pleasantly surprised to find a tail replacement that is half the price of Pepsi.
Trump’s policies have “brought the blood of the Danish Viking blood,” said Jens Olsen, electrician and carpenter. He is now considering replacing Dewalt electric tools made of $ 10,000 even though it will cost you a lot.
He has already found European replacements for a brand of American corn popcorn and IPA beer from Lagunitas made in California, which he calls “the best in the world.”
“I visited the brewery several times, but now I don’t buy it,” he said. He has found feelings because he is a Danish and Danish citizen, and has spent a lot of time in the United States. But you can’t contain your anger.
“I am 66 years old and I had never seen the Danes so annoying before,” he said.
Michael Ramgil Stæhr has canceled an autumn trip to the United States and is among many to buy Danish instead of manufactured, although he cannot identify the exact moment in which he made the decision.
“Maybe it was when (Trump) announced to the world press that he intended to” take “Greenland and the Panama Canal, and if necessary by the military force. That and the behavior similar to the gangster towards the Ukrainian president in the White House,” said the 53 -year -old Copenhagen resident.
“The man is dangerous mortal and is already costing lives” in the developing world and Ukraine, added Stæhr, who works helping disabled war veterans, many of whom were injured serving next to the US troops in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. He himself served in Bosnia.
Edouard Roussez, a farmer in northern France, launched an online group, “Boicot USA, Buy French and European!” That in just two weeks has attracted more than 20,000 members on Facebook.
Roussez believes that a boycott of American companies is a good way to express the opposition to Trump’s policies, especially “the commercial and ideological war” that he believes that Trump is freeing against Europe.
“First of all, these are the companies that financed Donald Trump’s campaign,” said state -owned LCP television channel. “I’m thinking about Airbnb, I’m thinking of Uber, I’m thinking of Tesla, of course.”
The irony of everything? The group is on Facebook. Roussez said that only the American social media platform gave him the reach he needed. But he is working to migrate the group to other platforms without funds or capital of the United States.
As for any impact on profits or the formulation of export policies of the United States, it is unlikely, said Olof Johansson Stenman, professor of economics at the University of Gototemburg.
The boycott could have a psychological effect on Americans who see the scale of anger, but “some can also say: ‘We don’t like these Europeans anyway,” said Stenman.
Simon Madsen, 54, who lives in the Danish city of Horsens with his 13 -year -old wife and twins, says that the family has renounced Pringles, Oreos and Pepsi Max. It is not so difficult, really.
But now they are arguing to do without Netflix, and that is a step too far for children.
He also wonders if he should continue buying Danish manufacturing chocolate -made chocolate mazes, which are made with American almonds.
It is important, he said, that people use the power of the bag to press companies to change.
“It’s the only weapon we have,” he said.
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AP Stefanie Dazio writers in Berlin, John Leicester and Samuel Petrequin in Paris, and Laurie Kellman in London contributed.
