Published on : 08/03/2025 at 04:08 --- Updated : ---
The boycott of American products in Quebec, although it seems popular, has several inconsistencies and contradictions that highlight a huge ridiculous.
Paradoxically, this boycott could harm the Quebec economy. Many US companies employ Quebec workers and contribute significantly to the local economy. For example, Kraft Heinz Canada employs 1,000 families in Montreal and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic spinoffs for the local economy.
Use of US platforms
The hilarious paradox of the boycott of American products in Quebec is strikingly manifested in the use of social networks. As calls for boycotts proliferate, they are mainly broadcast on US platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the profound inconsistency towards these technologies.
This situation creates a legendary inconsistency, particularly visible in the case of Prime Minister François Legault. While he encourages Quebecers to turn away from US products, he continues to use X, a platform owned by Elon Musk, to communicate this message
Confusion about product origin and complexity of supply chains
Many products that are perceived to be American are actually made in Quebec or Canada. For example, some Kraft products are manufactured locally. This confusion can lead to boycotting products that actually support the Quebec economy.
Global supply chains make it difficult to pinpoint the origin of products. As Pascal Thériault, economist and agronomist, points out, "we are talking about large multinationals, but often the investors are not in one country".
Impact on Quebec merchants
Removing already paid US products from the shelves causes direct losses to Quebec merchants. These unused stocks must be liquidated or stored, which increases the operating costs. For example, some grocery stores have had to discount brands like Pillsbury to avoid total losses. These actions do not directly penalize US companies, but rather affect the local economy.
The boycott also affects Quebec merchants who use US platforms like Amazon to sell their products. For example, Steve Whitty, owner of Piscine Aide, saw his sales on Amazon drop by 9% due to the boycott.
Unintended consequences
By avoiding American products, Quebeckers could unintentionally harm their own economic interests. As Professor Thériault points out, "The Caisse de dépôt invests in several types of businesses to make our business grow, so we can hurt ourselves".
In conclusion, although the sentiment behind the boycott is understandable, its implementation reveals many inconsistencies. As summed up by Jacques Nantel, emeritus professor at HEC Montréal, "The portfolio is on the right and the heart is on the left," highlighting the gap between the intentions and actual actions of Quebec consumers.