Canadians Are Boycotting the US In Key States-Why This Is Critically Important

My sister, who lives in Arizona, shared a couple of interesting anecdotes while visiting here in July. Apparently, as a result of the Trump administration’s abusive tariffs and abusive rhetoric, Canadian folks are selling their second homes in Arizona. And, not just a few. Worse, Canadians are no longer looking or buying there.

And, it is not just true in Arizona. It is happening in Florida, North and South Carolina, Texas and California.

Similarly, friends from Michigan and Maine have shared horror stories from businesses of all sizes who have had their sales fall off a cliff because Canadians have literally had it with Trump’s abuse, are boycotting businesses, and have stopped coming for leisure travel.

To their credit and something I find adorable about our northern neighbors, when Canadians criticize Trump, they quickly add “…but we love Americans, it’s just this administration that is horrifying.”

And I do believe them. I think the rift can be repaired once Trump is out of power.

Let’s dig in…

Tariffs are killing business in the Northern Border States

President Trump’s tariffs and the resulting trade dispute with Canada have severely disrupted northern border states like Michigan, Maine, and New York by fracturing cross-border supply chains and triggering steep retaliatory measures.

Supply Chain and Manufacturing Disruptions

• Automotive Strain: Integrated supply chains mean auto parts cross the northern border multiple times. Tariffs on steel, aluminum, and vehicle parts have driven up production costs and contributed to a roughly 22% drop in Canadian imports of U.S. motor vehicles. [1, 2, 3]
• Increased Material Costs: The National Association of Home Builders warned that lumber and building material tariffs heighten market uncertainty and inflate construction expenses amid an ongoing housing affordability crisis. [1]

Retaliation and Export Losses

• Targeted Duties: Canada’s retaliatory tariffs—ranging from 15% to 50% on roughly $20 billion worth of American goods—specifically target key agricultural, manufacturing, and seafood exports from the Midwest and Northeast, including dairy, paper, furniture, and crustaceans like lobster. [1, 2]
• Boycotts on Spirits: Provincial restrictions and boycotts keeping American wine and spirits off Canadian store shelves have caused U.S. spirit exports to drop by more than 70%. [1]

Regional and Economic Uncertainty

• Economic Squeeze: Border communities reliant on tourism, local shipping, and cross-border commerce—such as around the Sault Ste. Marie crossing in Michigan—face mounting financial pressure. [1]
• Political Pushback: Lawmakers and business leaders in northern border states from both political parties have voiced alarm, warning that ongoing tit-for-tat escalation threatens regional competitiveness and long-term economic stability.[1, 2]

Canadians Are Selling Their US Properties and Homes

President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada have indirectly harmed Canadian property owners in the U.S. Sunbelt by weakening the Canadian dollar, fueling broader economic uncertainty, and dampening cross-border buyer sentiment. [1, 2]

Financial and Currency Pressures

• Weakened Purchasing Power: The trade conflict and reciprocal tariff environment have weighed down the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar. [1]
• Higher Operating Costs: For Canadians who already own homes in states like Arizona, Florida, and California, converting Canadian funds to pay for surging local property expenses—such as homeowners association (HOA) fees, property taxes, and soaring local property insurance costs—has become significantly more expensive. [1]

Property Value and Market Sentiment

• Cooling Demand: Data from tracking platforms like Realtor.com and Redfin indicate that online home searches and new purchases by prospective Canadian buyers in warm-weather hotspots dropped sharply following the initial implementation and subsequent escalation of the tariffs. [1]
• Resale Hesitancy: While existing properties owned by Canadians have not faced direct asset seizures or real estate taxes from the trade dispute, the chill in buyer demand and general economic friction mean that Canadians looking to sell their Sunbelt vacation properties face a more hesitant market and potential stagnation in liquidity. [1]
• Yes, many Canadians who own property in the United States are selling or planning to sell their homes due to political tensions and tariff disputes sparked by the Trump administration. [1, 2]Key Findings on Canadian Property Sales
  • Survey Data: According to reports from real estate analysis firms like Royal LePage, over half (54%) of Canadian property owners in the U.S. expressed plans to sell their American homes. [1, 2]
  • Political Drivers: Of those considering a sale, roughly 62% cited concerns regarding President Donald Trump’s administration, trade policies, and polarizing rhetoric as the primary motivation. [1, 2]
  • Contributing Economic Factors: Beyond political friction, a weakened Canadian dollar (the loonie) alongside surging U.S. insurance costs, homeowners association (HOA) fees, and general cost-of-living increases in popular snowbird states like Florida and Arizona have accelerated the trend.[1, 2]
  • Decline in New Buyers: Data from platforms like Redfin shows that Canadian online searches and interest in purchasing new U.S. real estate have dropped significantly across major sunbelt metropolitan areas. [1, 2]

THE GOOD NEWS: THE DEMOCRATS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS FALLOUT

It is cynical to say, of course, because people are struggling and hurting like never before, but Trump’s actions come with a substantially negative consequence for all of his party and GOP candidates everywhere, but specifically in states where the tariffs are rendering the most damage. The economic fallout in states like Maine, Michigan, New York, Florida, Arizona, California, and many more will drive voters, who are weary of their tourism falling apart, business sales plummeting, and the reputational damage the US is suffering as a result of Trumpian policies, to Democrats.

We are already seeing polling in these states showing an advantage for Democratic candidates; the overwhelming majority of these Dems are leading in both statewide and congressional races.

Let’s keep this in mind and remind our friends in these states that incompetence and abusive behavior do not work. Let's do all the good we can, wherever we can and whenever we can.

On Substack: @marienewmanstudio

www.marienewmanstudio.com