Canada-US trade tensions spark boycotts and street renaming

Escalating trade tensions and verbal threats from the United States are driving a wave of anti-American sentiment in Canada. Following Donald Trump's return to power in early 2025, new tariffs on Canadian goods and an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ have sparked significant public anger.

In response to these developments, some Canadians have begun boycotting American products and canceling travel to the United States. The friction is also manifesting in local governance; in Ottawa, city officials are considering renaming ‘Trump Avenue’ to distance the capital from the U.S. president. Proposed names for the street include ‘TACO’—an acronym for ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’—or honoring former President Barack Obama.

Ottawa City Councilor Rayleigh Brokington stated that street names in the capital should honor individuals of integrity who build partnerships with Canada, noting that the current namesake does not meet those criteria.