Many people in Europe consider the Trump administration's policies as attacks on cultural institutions and members of minority groups.

Yle News
4.4. 16:51

As the world reacts to the United States' tariff plans, about 4,000 people have joined a Finnish Facebook group aimed at facilitating a boycott of US products and services.

There are a number of similar groups on the platform in other countries around the world, including in Denmark and Sweden. However, it might seem a bit of a paradox to some when people are encouraging others to boycott the US on an American-owned social media platform.

According to UK newspaper the Independent, the number of US boycott-related internet searches have particularly increased in Denmark, Canada and France.

US President Donald Trump's announcement of sweeping tariff plans on Wednesday has sparked criticism and calls for boycotts on brands like Heinz ketchup, McDonald's fast food restaurants, clothing brands, billionaire Elon Musk's electric car company Tesla, as well as art and culture offerings from the United States.

Members of boycott groups have also discussed whether to cancel their subscriptions to US-based streaming services or to skip going to Hollywood movies at cinemas.

Various motivations
There are a number of factors prompting the anti-American sentiment, according to Maria Lindén, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. She commented about the situation in general terms.

According to the researcher, a large part of the US shares liberal values that do not align with the Trump administration's policies, including ones surrounding gender minorities, for example.

"There's also a broader phenomenon at play," Lindén said, noting that the US has taken steps towards authoritarianism that can already be seen at the country's borders.

She noted that US border authorities have turned away or detained visitors at the border, which is a development that a number of media outlets have reported about, including the Guardian.

People interested in US boycotts are motivated by a wide range of reasons, according to Lindén, even if they aren't interested in travelling to the US.

For example, people in Denmark are being encouraged to boycott the US because of Trump's statements about annexing Greenland. Trump has also targeted the arts, for example, by appointing himself as chair of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and replacing more than a dozen of the centre's board members.

Trump's apparent culture war has also taken aim at the US Department of Education and cracked down on museums that are considered too liberal, for example

by finlander2020

20 comments

  1. Wouldn’t deleting Facebook also be boycott because it’s an American site? I just feel like it’s odd to call for people to join a US-boycotting group on a… US-site.

  4. Didn’t join any group so far but I’m doing my part as little consumer. I cancelled my Prime and Netflix subscription, no more Coca-Cola, no more Nike shoes, etc. I will basically avoid any USA product I can. Some cannot be easily avoided (social networks, VISA bank system etc) but it’s a beginning.

  5. Boycott american services group, created in an american social network service is… ironic.

  7. Good effort. Just ironic to have the group on an American site.

  8. I’m from the US and I’m doing the same thing to an extent. We buy from small mom and pop shops as much as we can and we didn’t even want this wannabe dictator to be president again. Right now the US is in a FAFO phase and god are they especially as a large part of his supporters voted for him because they listened to and believed his lies. I’m all for the finns boycotting the US goods!

  9. I dotn understand my country first we join defense aliance which is sponsored 85% by usa and then we want boycott one of allies idk

  10. I’m also boycotting USA. Trying to avoid buying anything manufactured there. Instead of McDonalds, I use Hesburger. It seems to be cheaper as well.

  12. No one really cares what happens in Finland. Stop spreading fake news. Yet, you are using Reddit, which is from… ?

  15. I’m in US of A and agree. Trump and the current government is completely corrupt and wrong. I would do the same, send me a life preserver, this ship is sinking

  16. lol the spin from this article is pure propaganda. Trump “taking aim at the arts” by trying to save the Kennedy center which is unsustainably in debt due to decades of mismanagement.

  18. considering the fact that FB users average age is 40+, that is alarming! how detached a generation could be from reality!

  20. Hey if you guys really want to hit Trump hard, target the red states !! Right now the effects are working like wonders 🙂 (Thank you Canada). Protests are growing like crazy. And even better, the red states that are being punished are forcing the voters who voted these traitors ( Congress and senate) to confront them in town halls.

    The more that Finland, Canada and the E.U. tariffs the orange vittu, the more it forces the MAGA voters to do the right thing. And yes there are Americans who voted against the orange vittu, but the tariffs are helping us slapping some sense into the voters who voted for this… disgrace of a man to force their congress and senators to do the right thing. Give em hell.

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