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Canadians cancel their trips and ban American alcohol after Trump's tariffs

Canadians have cancelled trips south of border, boycotted U.S. products such as alcohol and other goods and even booed sporting events following the announcement by U.S. president Donald Trump on Saturday of 25% tariffs on Canada's most popular goods.

Many Canadians were shocked by the tariffs that Trump imposed on Canada and Mexico. Although Trump had promised to do so before taking office, many Canadians still felt it was an act of economic war against a country which is culturally and geographically close to the United States.

In an interview, Drew Dilkens said that it felt like Trump wanted to restructure world order. "He is willing to begin with his closest ally... What's he going to do to everyone else?"

Dilkens stated that about C$400 ($272 millions) worth of trade crosses Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor each day. The tariffs are going to have an immediate impact on his community of 240,000 people. He hopes that residents will support the local wineries and breweries.

Ken LimaCoelho, a Calgary resident, said that the news of the tariffs triggered a surge in Canadian pride within his family. His son, aged 19, is planning to sew a Canadian flag onto his backpack in preparation for a trip to Europe. Meanwhile, his daughter spent the night Saturday making a list of Canadian foodstuffs.

Lima-Coelho stated, "There is nothing I can do to change this political quagmire we are now in with the regime right next door." "But I can choose which toothpaste I purchase... and this gives us something else to do until our politicians and business leaders resolve this."

Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on all Canadian products except for energy products. These will be subject to a 10% levy when entering the United States.

Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, announced immediately retaliatory duties on C$155 Billion ($107 Billion) worth of U.S. products. Trudeau announced that the tariffs on C$30billion would take effect Tuesday, the day after most of Trump's duties, and the rest on C$125billion in 21 days.

Trudeau encouraged Canadians to shop locally and vacation in Canada. This sentiment was echoed by local officials.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has ordered that all American-made alcohol be removed from the shelves of Liquor Control Board of Ontario (the only alcohol wholesaler of Canada's largest province) by Tuesday.

Every year, LCBO sales nearly $1 billion in American wine, beer and spirits. Ford wrote "Not anymore" on X.

Loraine MacKenzie said that after attending church in Winnipeg she would change her shopping habits and support Mexican as well as Canadian products.

She said, "We know there will be job loss in this country... We're prepared for it." "We must find ways to show solidarity with those who will suffer the brunt from irrational anger."

On Saturday night in Ottawa, Canadians were even more angry at a hockey match: they booed the U.S. National Anthem before the Ottawa Senators faced the Minnesota Wild. On Sunday, TV footage showed that basketball fans again booed the anthem before the Toronto Raptors faced the LA Clippers.

Manitoba Premier Wab Knew urges calm

He said at a press conference: "I believe we must recognize that our dispute is not with Americans... For many of our families our relatives living on the other side are still our family and friends." "We share a common history of veterans fighting side by side. . . "We defeated fascism jointly."

Mike Davies, a 64-year-old British Columbian, is angry that Trump has started making comments on social media regarding Canada becoming the 51st State.

"Having Americans insult Canada makes me furious. I think that every Canadian is disgusted. Davies, who lives in White Rock near the U.S.-Canada border, said, "I just think that (the tariffs) are treachery."

Davies created a Facebook page to encourage people to boycott American products. He has cancelled Netflix and has tried to avoid using Amazon.

He also canceled plans to visit his friend in North Carolina.

He said, "We are not going to America." (Nivedita Balu contributed additional reporting; Caroline Stauffer wrote the article; Diane Craft edited it)

(source: Reuters)