Canada will bend economic muscles as tariff negotiations continue

Canadians are exchanging their friendly aura for a fierce sense of nationalism amid President Donald Trump’s attack on the country’s trade and sovereignty.

Trump’s delayed plan for most of the 25% tariff on Canadian goods and his call to become an American nation have infuriated American neighbours and citizens of its major trading partners. As a result, Canadians refused to import America and issued other economic punishments on patriotism-infested shows.

“Like we were backstabbed, for most Canadians, the people we trust most now feel like they’re turning us on and attacking us for no obvious reason,” said Joel Bild, professor of economics at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. “It really has a unified person.”

Grocers encourage visitors to “shop in Canada” and Aisles signs and special labels warn that the product is being made domestically. The popular Facebook group, which first reported by NBC News, focuses on purchasing Canadian-made products, has seen more than doubled memberships from early February to early February.

Over 60% of Canadians report that over 60% of Canadians purchase American products when they shop in-store or online, according to a survey by Leger, a market research firm with over 1,500 residents conducted between March 7th and March 10th.

The Ontario Liquor Commission went further, preventing members from ordering American alcohol. The moves of US-based spirit makers like Jack Daniel’s parents have sparked alarms as LCBO sells more than $1 billion in American liquor each year Brown Forman.

“That’s worse than tariffs,” Brown Forman CEO Lawson Whiting said this month in a revenue call for the Kentucky-based company. “It’s literally taking away your sales.”

Ontario also said it would implement a 25% extra charge for electricity exported to Michigan, Minnesota and New York. However, Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford said the tax would be temporarily suspended after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick agreed to resume negotiations.

Trump initially responded by calling for Canada’s steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%, but the White House told CNBC it had retreated following a conversation between Lutnick and Ford.

Still, Trump’s unprecedented plan for a higher tax on metals is alerting the United Steelworkers coalition, representing around 850,000 people in the US, Canada and the Caribbean. USW International President David McCall said in a statement on March 11 that North American weapons from the International Trade Organization will “fight together” with the proposed taxation.

Despite the continued flow of tariff negotiations, trips to the US have already been a hit. According to government statistics, Canadians’ return trips by vehicles by vehicles fell by approximately 23% in February from the same month a year ago.

Government data also show that the number of Canadians returning to the country from international locations, which fell from a year ago in February, shows a pullback to overseas tourism. That’s coming Air Canada Starting this month, they announced plans to cut their ability to warm US locations such as Florida, Arizona and Nevada.

Trump’s threat has prompted several cancellations to Wildwoods, New Jersey, a popular beach destination for travelers from places like Montreal and Quebec, according to Ben Rose, director of marketing and public relations for the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority. However, he said these rescues were not as widespread as initially expected. Canadians are also evaluating concerns about exchange rates, he added.

At the Toronto and Montreal consumer travel shows, authorities received several comments from potential Canadian travelers about how Trump’s tax plans blocked his vacation in the US. Rose said his team reminds the uneasy Canadians that for decades his team has been a welcoming destination for them and offers unique value as a place within driving distance.

“Some of the pushbacks we’re getting is, “We know we love Americans. We know they love us, but we’ll see you in four years,” Rose said. “They can’t go with the administration.”

Canadians’ stance on Trump’s policy has spread to culture and the media as the issue captured the national interest.

The Canadians booed the US national anthem before major league sports games against American teams. Canadian celebrities Mike Myers, who appeared on NBC’s Saturday Night Live this month, wore a shirt that read “Canada is not for sale” along with the country’s red and white flags.

Tariffs have become the focus of the Canadian government, with central banker Mark Carney earning the title of Prime Minister this month. Kearney replaces Justin Trudeau, whom Trump began calling himself “governor” in connection with his desire to make Canada a US state.

The British Columbia government and its power operators said they would exclude them. Tesla Products from certain green energy rebates as of March 12th are actions to give Canadian-made alternatives a “priority.” Tesla is run by CEO Elon Musk. The CEO fired from critics for the leadership of Trump’s controversial government efficiency initiative.

Waterloo Bilt said Canadian anger is primarily focused on Trump, not on the whole of Americans. In other words, the personal relationships between citizens of each country will not be worn out as a result. But he said American businesses should expect Canadians, once known as laidback and courteous groups, who never once thought to shop for our brands or take vacations south of the border.

“It really elicited the kind of response I’ve never seen before,” Bilt said. “Canadians are not fundamentally nationalist, but this really hits something strong at the heart of Canadians.”

– Dan Mangan and Laya Neelakandan of NBC News and CNBC contributed to this report.

Disclosure: NBCUniversal is the parent company of CNBC and NBC, which broadcasts “Saturday Night Live.”