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.
I find it very weird that trade between Canada and Europe is going through USA.
Isn’t it possible to have more efficient shipping route to Canada than USA?
It’s really not weird at all. It’s the same in EU. If I order something from another continent. Chances are pretty high it’s going to go through Germany before making its way up here to Sweden.
Canada is 40 million to the US 350. So it makes more sense to have things go through the country where your biggest market is, and have it distributed out from there.
Ofc I’m just speaking very broadly. There’s a difference if you import directly yourself, or if they’re going through a Canadian vendor
youre channelling through a large country who are shackled to their own country’s stuff. it isnt going to get the acknowledgement you think it will get there. US are simply benefitting from being invoved in the supply chain without having to be a trade partner.
I have genuinly no idea what you’re trying to say.
Canadian companies are more than welcome to set up their own distribution channels and not route it through the US. Nothing is stopping them.
You said 40 mill is less a target than 350 mill hence why you think it’s preferred to travel by the 360 mill as if they’d take any interest of you.
I’m correcting you on this. The 350 mill has no interest in anything they already get within their own country. You can’t compete with that. You’re just forking over money for having the luxury of transit and tariff and no benefit of trade with the 350 mill.
What is it you think you’re correcting? This is how it works. It’s happening right now. And has been happening for decades.
goods ordered from Europe, to Canada, that only transits the US, is not affected by US tariffs. Because it’s not being imported to the US.
Items can still arrive in a US port, be taken inland for further processing and distribution. And then whatever is supposed to go up to Canada goes up to Canada.
the only time Foreign goods to Canada is subjected to US tariffs, is if a US company has taken ownership, and sell the product to Canada, rather than selling the transportation service
ok so you said you legitimately didnt know what i meant. i see you played ignorant as a bad faith move to waste my energy in a shitty little flame war. you can go huff farts troll.
Based on your previous reply, I could make some educated guesses at what you were trying to convey, based on context.
I did not know we were in a flame war. Have I attacked you somehow? Or do you always see it as a personal attack when someone has to explain why you’re wrong?
No in Europe most goes through Netherlands because it’s the best geographical placement. Especially for Germany that is the biggest market of a single country.
It doesn’t go to Norway which is further away, or Spain which is also further away. It is going the most practical route which is often through the Netherlands.
Seem to me that goods going between Canada and Europe going over USA is sending it on a detour, that makes the shipping route longer. Having it go over USA first is like having it go over Mexico, except less extreme.
It depends on what it is you’re buying and how it’s getting there. If I’m ordering something from China. I’m not gonna get it shipped. Because that will take ages. It’ll go on a transport plane. And every single time I’ve ordered things, they’ve been flown to Germany first.
Items being shipped between Europe and NA is not going on a detour to land in the US. Especially not if it’s imported by a vendor. The vendor will pick the cheapest option. And trucking through Canadian wilderness isn’t it.
On eBay I bought my son a Pokemon game that was in HK. Consider me surprised when I had to pay duties for it to come from America to Canada. Paid an additional 15$. Why could it not ship direct to Canada? Lord knows.
It has to do with rail connections and port capacities. If stuff comes in by ports, even air freight, rail hubs in the Eastern US are more central.
Otherwise it has to come into the port of Montreal, inland ports beyond the Seaway don’t accommodate every ship size and are lower volume.
In Ontario, I believe it’ll be more likely for products to come into Canada through both Montreal and Eastern US ports. Whereas in Quebec it’s usually not the case. New York and Montreal are similar distances to Toronto by rail.
It’s probably something you have to consider via carriers.