A wave of anti-US sentiment is sweeping across parts of Europe, with consumers in France and Denmark leading a boycott against American products. Frustrated by Washington’s foreign and economic policies, many are choosing European alternatives instead.
In France, the movement took off on March 1, sparked by farmer Edouard Roussez. His Facebook group, Boycott USA, Buy French!, has quickly gained traction, drawing over 15,000 members. The message? Enough is enough. “Stop funding US imperialism—buy European!” the group’s manifesto declares.
Roussez, a hop-grower from Northern France, isn’t mincing words. “The way Zelensky was treated was a slap in the face to all Europeans,” he said, criticizing what he sees as America’s dismissive attitude. “Washington’s made it clear they don’t need us—so let’s make sure we don’t need them.”
Boycotters have been pushing European-made alternatives, swapping Google for Qwant and ChatGPT for Mistral’s AI. But ditching US products entirely isn’t so simple. Some users admitted they’re stuck with American software like Adobe for work. Even Roussez acknowledged the irony of using Facebook—owned by US giant Meta—to organize the boycott. “Hey, resistance fighters use whatever tools they’ve got,” he quipped.
And it’s not just France. Over in Denmark, a parallel movement has gained even more steam. The Facebook group Boykot Varer Fra USA (Boycott Goods from the USA) has amassed more than 54,000 members, blaming American trade policies for pushing them to take action.
“This is the fallout from Trump’s trade war,” the group’s description states. Danish MEP Anders Vistisen echoed the sentiment, warning that if tensions escalate, European conservatives would stand by their own economies rather than their US counterparts.
Meanwhile, American companies are already feeling the heat. Tesla, Elon Musk’s electric vehicle brand, saw a staggering 45% drop in European sales in January 2025. Some European politicians, particularly Green MEPs, are even pushing to cut funding for projects linked to Musk, a known Trump ally.
But this movement isn’t confined to Europe. Across the Atlantic, Canadians have launched their own US boycott in response to Trump’s controversial remarks suggesting Canada should become America’s “51st state.” Tensions escalated further when Trump slapped new tariffs on Canadian imports. In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to the stage on February 1, rallying citizens to “choose Canada” and support homegrown businesses.
What started as a few online groups is quickly turning into a global economic standoff. How far will this consumer rebellion go? Time will tell, but one thing’s clear—US brands are no longer untouchable.
