Canadians Embrace Buy-Canadian Movement Amid Trade War

As tensions between the US and Canada escalate in their trade war, Canadians are bracing for impact. At grocery stores, small red maple leaves dot the aisles, signifying Canadian-made products. Mateus Gujrel, a software developer, is part of this surge in nationalism, becoming more conscious about buying locally sourced items after Trump's tariffs.

Gujrel switched his almond milk brand and stopped buying LaCroix, opting for a Canadian alternative. 'Anything that we can clearly see that's Canadian, we will take,' he told Al Jazeera outside a No Frills grocery store. This kind of shopping has become increasingly common in Canada over the past year.

Research by Narrative Research found that 76% of respondents chose a hypothetical basket of entirely Canadian groceries over a cheaper US-sourced option. Even when the Canadian basket cost more, 70% still chose it. Economists say consumers are willing to pay more for domestic products in support of Canada's economy.

However, experts warn that consumer prices could rise and job losses may occur due to the trade war. The uncertainty surrounding the situation has created anxiety among Canadians. Many shoppers have not noticed drastic price increases yet, but retailers may struggle to absorb costs if tariffs remain high.