To think about boycotting American products and services

[Taytoface]

I feel so helpless in the current madness. It seems like the only act of objection possible is not buying american. Boycotting Israeli products, and South African back in the day, was relatively straightforward, but I have no clue how to de americanise my life. Anyone come across any helpful resources?

You would incidentally be stimulating the British economy if you did, with respect to UK owned companies. Buying British is actually a good idea.

I think this trade deal we had with the States is done for a long while though. Their chief exports will be very expensive compared to local stuff. Beef, cars, chicken…

I'm not gonna buy a Cadillac or make s'mores.

This. It will be impossible to fully boycott US products but who cares. Small is better than nothing if it makes you feel comfortable.

Consumer spending can have a big impact in tourism and beauty, and the food industry. We’ve seen the decline in the bourbon market. The whole idea that we are “virtue signaling” is bullshite. There is a facist in the White House. The Republicans will only pay attention if they start losing money.

As someone upthread says, American companies have global supply chains and operations that create employment in other, normally poorer countries or our European neighbours. So boycotting them means risking some poor sod in India, Mexico, Colombia, Taiwan etc getting the sack while doing precisely nothing to the Directors and C-suite who wield the real power and influence. Also trade bans and wars have existed for decades as has ICE doing dodgy things. It’s only social media that makes it seem like it’s a new phenomenon because it’s more visible to the public - it would have been buried away in local newspapers previously not making international news. So the US hasn’t really changed that much between various Republican Govts - it’s just better publicised. And if the world survived it all with everyone going about their merry way clueless and doing nothing, it prob will again.

Adidas is German. We can keep that.

We have done the same for a year now, probably saved ourselves a fortune.

Don't knowingly buy anything US now, and weaning ourselves off the tech one bit at time. Getting rid of apple/google will take a while but not having any facebook products has just been a win for the whole family.

Might be pointless but feels good especially buying locally made stuff, French in our case so plenty of clothes and cosmetics to choose from. Funny off brand Chinese tech is also benefiting from our household spend!

People saying to boycott Amazon - they have a UK office which your boycott will impact, leading to redundancies here and Europe not in their Seattle HQ. Same with Starbucks. Pick companies that don’t have a big presence outside the US - tricky isn’t it.

Agree with it being virtue signaling nonsense. It is completely pointless and completely impossible to do. I think making more of an effort to buy British is a good idea, but it's just not possible to boycott everything American.

Not all businesses in America agree with Trump and his doings. Would you be happy for them to suffer or go out of business from no fault of their own? Would you boycott everything American or check their affiliations first? It's all too much.

In terms of AI, try Claude, not ChatGPT, Gemini etc. It is rather verbose, but actually better than ChatGPT and is French.

If he puts tariffs on us, our economy and we will suffer! Who do you put first? Trump was their democratic choice.

I won't visit the US while the orange one is in charge. Other things are harder. I was in Canada recently & the supermarkets there label whether things are local or American so people are encouraged to buy local milk etc. Every little helps, as they say.

This 💯

Financial and tech services are the biggest ‘invisible’ way so much of our money goes to US businesses. Then so many brands we think are British are owned by US giants such as Proctor and Gamble, or have been bought by US private equity.

Maybe more impactful to campaign to rejoin EU customs union.

We should all do as much as possible. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Personally, as well as hoping to exert financial pressure I am so disgusted that I want nothing from there anymore.

I get your point, but adidas is not US owned. It’s largely German.

There is perfectly good answer to Proctor and Gamble and that is Unilever. Just check the box of what you buy.

Tourism is already down. I'd boycott MAGA companies. Estée Lauder is an obvious target.

No Creme de la Mer for me. Go Nivea! 🙂

Whilst I can empathise, will it actually achieve anything a few people doing this?

I think not.

The shareholders know when their sales are affected. Then they lobby the government. That’s why boycotts often work. They are a tool of peaceful protest. Though obviously rely on a number of people joining in.

I thought as much, it would be so difficult to peel American services and goods out of our lives.

I know what you mean about virtue signalling, but what else is there? Roll over and wait until he decides he wants Scotland because it has good golf courses?

💯

P&G have factories and warehouses in the UK and are a UK subsidiary. Your Gillette isn’t travelling from the US and the execs who run it are sat here not in the US, with profits being reinvested here…

Exactly. People are so bloody simplistic and naive. I'm sure they'll enjoy the little frisson of excited rebellion as they cancel their Amazon Prime. But in reality it will make absolutely bugger all difference and may well have a negative impact on innocent third parties.

But hey, you go girl. What a brave little economic warrior you are.

Far better to make Trump work for you and invest in the SNP 500. Then spend your winnings in your local independent shops if it makes you feel better. At least you'll be boosting your local economy.

Obviously there'll be a temporary slump in the SNP 500 tomorrow when the American stock exchange reopens, but it won't be for long.

I suspect they willl no doubt tell you!

I'm not going to watch their Artemis II rocket launch. That'll show'em.