German here. Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Things are a bit more complicated then it might first appear for US citizens:
First of all, I disagree with boycotting US-goods. I love the USA, and I had only good experience when I travelled there. I do not want the Average Joe to suffer!
However, there have been surprisingly few US-goods in Europe to begin with. The inbalance is striking.
In the early 19th century, European countries started to industrialise ahead before the United States. Whatever consumer goods you could possibly imagine, either is produced in Europe by very qualified companies or imported from China and other low-cost Asian countries. Forniture? Check. All kinds of kitchen and homeware supply? Check. Glasware? Check. High end audio devices? Check. Musical instruments? Check. Tools? Check. Etc. etc. pp.
Sectors like plumbing stand no competition, because the usual way of US construction work is ridiculed in Europe. While US plumbing nowadays consists mostly of plastic, European sanitary is made of metal and ceramics. Nobody would order any goods made in the USA to build a house, aside the high transportation costs…
Most of US produced food is literally illegal in the EU market, because it is highly processed with chemicals and other additives that violate the strict, very stringent regulations of European food laws. For example, US “bread” (usually toast) is not allowed to be called “bread” at all because it contains high amounts of sugar.
The TTIP faced tremendous backlash and criticism, especially for the lack of quality and consumer rights that was supposed to be strongarmed onto the European population.
Second, you my dear reader need to realise that all the “Western food” you know is based on European food culture. Why should “we” – as in Europe – import US made pasta, yoghurt, sausages, dips, wine, etc ? All of these food were invented resp. created in Europe, we have been producing them for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years.
This photo I made today shows the red wine selection in my local Kaufland, a large but average hypermarket at the Northern outskirts of Munich. It is both sides. White wine as well as liquor are in different aisles.
Wine from France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, sometimes Rumania, Croatia or Hungary. Obviously there is little demand for Californian wine (which is surprisingly good quality), because in general people are more aware of their ecological footprint, trying to avoid long distance transportation for something they can easily enjoy cheaper and locally made.
Here is an image of an average beer selection in an average Bavarian (Southern German) liquor store:
Again, there is now demand at all for US brews, many of which violate the Bavarian / German “Law of Beer Purity” (Reinheitsgebot) from 1516. Since March 12th 1987, imported beer does not necessarily need to follow that historical commandment. However by now it has become an essential part of German culture. Most foreign beers hardly stand a chance. Exceptions like Guinness or Corona / Desperados are “ethnic” brews, consumed in Irish pubs or Mexican restaurants.
You do find small sections of “US delikatessen” (junk food) which is sold as a joke for themed parties or for homesick expats. They are bought not on a daily basis, but for special occasions, and are rather costly in comparison. This aisle is called “From all the world” and contains durable food from Asia, America and the Balkans.
Aside food, anyway most “typical US items” are not produced within the USA anymore…
Blue Jeans: The most dominant symbol of American culture was first created by Jacob W. Davis (1834-1908) in Virginia City and patented by Bavarian migrant Löb Strauß alias Levi Strauss in 1873. For the generation of my father, the jeans was a statement. I am wearing one almost every day. However, even though they still have US-labels, almost every jeans today is made in Mexico, the Phillipines and other low-salary places directly for the EU market. Aside that, there are indeed some excellent European companies to produce high end Jeans. Like this “Mustang” from Germany.
Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Facebook all have headquarters in the EU for the administration of their European customers (most in Dublin for its low taxation). They have to follow EU laws, frequently get sued and punished for violations. Their products themselves are by great majority not produced in the USA. Its commonplace knowledge.
Apparently some US American users cannot or will not read properly. To make it very clear: I do not care wether Microsoft or Apple or Google/Facebook are formally US companies. Their products are produced in Asia and Europe, for the European market, managed by European headquarters. In the end, it is of no concern in which country they will avoid paying taxes. The average US citizen has neither benefit nor income of those multinational krakens!
Chart of the Apple output in 2005:
US-American cars in general: They are notorious for their low quality and their high gasoline consumption. They are too big aka clumsy for the common traffic situation within European cities. They take up way too much parking space, that usually costs money. And they are too expensive for the tight European competition. Btw in Europe its all in the news how Tesla cars literally explode or drive against walls…
Furthermore, there is no “glam” with US cars, with the exception of vintage cars. European brands sell a story, a message. It might be false advertisement, but still you define your character by what brand of a car you are buying. And Musk’s erratic behavior pretty much destroyed the reputation of Tesla. You cannot tweet to the Polish Foreign Minister “Be silent little man”. Musk is just an entrepreneur, nothing more. In Europe, money is not that important. Musk is seen as a lowclass, drug addicted rightwing a-hole.
Harley Davidson: Still the non plus ultra of motor bikes, however those EU countrys whichs societies are generally spoken rich enough to afford such high end vehicles, are not suitable for the classic Route 66 cruising: Both by geographics and climate it is no fun for 10 months out of 12. So indeed while Harleys are sold as a posh symbol of status for boomers who grew up with “Easy Rider”, the numbers decline and have been much lower then in the USA to begin with.
Whisky: Bourbon is widely seen as an inferior party drink for young people, mainly used for cocktails or long drinks. Jack Daniels and Jim Beam are laughably bad quality. You cannot drink them pure or on the rocks. Of course there are many excellent destilleries in the USA, however we compare to Europe, with Ireland, Scotland, and many more countries that destill whisky – even the “American Style” whisky. Plus, there is Canada for future imports.
Pharma: The largest international pharma conglomerates are in Europe. The best research too. While in the USA it is unfortunately very common to sell addictives or placebos, the EU is highly regulated (but not regulated enough in my eyes). Companies like Bayer produce for Europe, Africa and Asia. We do not need the products of unreliable US companies, that are partially owned by European Big Pharma anyways…
So in summary: The weird Orange Man surely believes the USA are the greatestest country in the world. However, the rest of this planet does not require or need its products. Especially for the EU, Northern America never was a supreme trade partner to begin with.
All “you”, as in the USA as a whole, has to offer are:
A) luxurious lifestyle products which are not part of a daily basis, average consumption
B) products produced by US companies, but not within the USA (especially tech)
C) things we might still import and require, but have plenty of options to replace with cheaper alternatives
D) Food nobody wants, food that is illegal, or food produced in already-too-much quantities within Europe.
My son works for a company that sells pumps. These are high end pumps. When Trump first announced the tariffs he received a call from a supplier in California. They offered to send him all the pumps he would need for a full year and they could have them delivered immediately. The sales person told him that their company had told their sales reps to call all of their clients in Canada and that they had trucks ready to deliver them.
My son told them that his clients had now been coming to him and suggesting they did not want pumps made in the USA and asking if there were alternatives. There are great pumps made in Italy. The sales rep said that they had been hearing the same things from all of their Canadian clients.
There are alternatives. It used to be less expensive to buy US products due to transportation but with tariffs it is not just as cheap to buy products made in the EU or Asia. Canada will impose reciprocal tariffs on US made products as will other countries like Mexico and the EU. American manufacturers will find their markets in other countries drying up.
There are alternatives to buying American and we will find them.
In Canadian markets now there are signs on the shelves indicating which products are made in Canada and which are American. We will avoid and already are avoiding American made products.
Trump will ruin the American economy. You will get what you asked for.
esterday, I went to the supermarket (here in France) to buy some groceries. I sought to buy fresh bottled coffee. There was 2 brands available: Starbucks (American), and Nescafé (Swiss).
This is what I am talking about. I should have taken a picture of it with my smartphone.
The shelf for Starbucks was full, it appeared that none had been sold. And the shelf for Nescafé was more than half empty. And personally, I went ahead, and bought a Nescafé one. And it was tasty, I was satisfied with the purchase.
This is just an isolated example, it does not constitute hard evidence. But yes, it seems that people in Europe are deliberately avoiding American brands.
Yes, I did and all my companies as much as possible. We are a petroleum and refined product trader.
Some American company wanted to do business with us and Sent a Trump fanboy to close the deal. He came to our Office and kept making jokes about the 51st states. My staff told him to stop because none of us that it was funny. So I came in a meeting and he made another of those Maga inspired joke.
I stopped the meeting and told him to leave our office that we will never do business with them. His boss called me an apologetically and told me that he fired the guy.
I told him that we did not do business with disrespectful people and I decided to give the contract to agree company the contract is for 13 tankers which goes for about $45,000 a day.
Even After the US revolt for seeing the destruction of the US government and cutting benefit to elderly, veterans and the average American in order to give a tax cut to the top 1% of the population The United States will remain a pariah.
A country that cannot be trusted, that does not honor their agreements And that is so morally and financially corrupt that nobody wants to play with them.
I am sad to see the crumbling of the American empire. But you voted for him, you made your bed, sleep in it.
A Canadian businessman
