Boycotting USA – Practical or Principle?

As the debate continues regarding trade with the USA, and a final trade deal is as elusive as ever, it is worth considering in more depth the reasons for avoiding products from America. Trade and purchase boycotts are not new. In the 1960s, 70s and 80s many people avoided South African products in protest against the apartheid regime. Many now refuse products from Isreal in support of Palestine although others will eschew goods from nations they see as anti semitic.  All these are thus strong personal reasons which, whilst they may have little practical impact on the political situation, are nevertheless deeply held commitments and important to the individuals concerned. Adhering to one’s own principles can be a strong motivational factor.

Think global – Act local.  Another way of regarding any boycott is to consider the global effect of transporting goods over large distances.  If it is possible to source items from closer to home then there is less environmental impact.  For us in the UK it would mean supporting our local businesses and, where that is not possible, sourcing items from our near neighbours in Europe. This would also strengthen the trading relationship with the EU, so important as the UK tries to negotiate a more sensible approach after the ruinous effects of Brexit.

The reasons for attempting a boycott of American goods are numerous and varied. Aside from principle, one might hope that if enough support was evident then pressure from American companies that have lost trade may seek to influence government policy.  Collectively across all goods and services a change in the trading balance nationally might have a similar effect.

So how might one attempt a USA boycott?  One possibility is a stepwise approach.  Each day look at one item or service and seek a non-USA alternative. Look for another item the next day, and so on.  The market leader of baked beans is American, even if the beans themselves are canned in the UK. There are other UK owned brands of beans. Another day it might be a health or beauty product.  A simple approach may be to swap out an American brand for a supermarket own brand.  Although American owned itself, a Facebook group “boycott American goods and services” is worth joining. There are several groups favouring a European angle such as “online shopping Europe”, “Europe marketplace” and more.  Use of a search engine (non American alternatives to Google include Qwant and Ecosia) can be used to find out the ultimate owner of what may once have been a UK brand.  Cadbury is owned by Mondelez International (a spin off from Kraft foods) for example.

Whatever approach someone chooses will be influenced by both principle and practicality.  The extent that we choose to implement a boycott will vary  but the hope must be that by using the little bit of influence that we each have we help to improve trading relationships for the benefit of all.