Prime Minister Mark Carney warned Canada’s “old relationship” with the U.S. would soon be “over.” New data on travel, trade, shopping, and culture shows that prediction is coming true.
Months after Donald Trump’s tariffs and his “51st state” remarks, Canadians are boycotting cross-border travel, reducing imports, and embracing homegrown products and culture.
Travel Boycott in Full Swing
Statistics Canada data shows car travel to the U.S. dropped 34% in August, the eighth straight month of decline.
Air travel also plunged, with Canadians returning from the U.S. down 25.4% year-over-year.
Trade Patterns Shift to Europe and U.K.
Canadian exports to the U.S. fell 2% in 2025, costing about $5 billion. Businesses are quickly turning elsewhere.
- Exports to the United Kingdom surged 63% this year, making Britain Canada’s second-largest export market outside the EU.
- Exports to Europe overall are up 26%.
- Trade with Central and South America is up 13%.
By contrast, exports to Mexico dipped slightly amid CUSMA uncertainty.
Retail and Shopping Changes
The Buy Canadian movement is reshaping retail.
- Canadian-authored books sales rose 25% at Indigo after stores began labeling them.
- U.S. alcohol sales dropped 62% in Canada, with premiers restricting American products.
- Food sales of U.S. imports fell 15–20%, with some categories dropping 50%.
Meanwhile, Loblaw added 100+ Canadian suppliers, showing a stronger shift to domestic goods.
Cultural Shift Toward Canadian Content
Canadians are also consuming less American entertainment.
- CBC Gem streaming hours rose 34% in 2025.
- Homegrown shows like Wild Cards (+200%), Heartland (+78%), Schitt’s Creek (+53%), and Murdoch Mysteries (+44%) saw huge jumps.
- The Juno Awards drew 2.8 million viewers, a 400% surge online.
- Historica’s Canadian Encyclopedia is on pace for 14 million pageviews.
Experts say Canadians are turning inward, showing new pride in domestic content during trade tensions.
Analysts: U.S.–Canada Rift Deepening
Despite Canada lifting tariffs and making goodwill gestures, Trump has offered little in return.
Christopher Sands of Johns Hopkins University said:
“I can’t expect Canadians to change their minds if they aren’t getting anything in return. Trump hasn’t done anything to show he knows he’s gone too far.”
Experts warn relations won’t improve until Washington signals a reset. Until then, Canadians appear ready to keep their wallets — and attention — at home.
