64% of people in France consider boycott of US products amidst trade war
Seven out of ten people also say they may stop buying American brands in supermarkets as Atlantic relations continue to deteriorate
American goods are in the firing line across several sectors, particularly in supermarkets
NeydtStock/Shutterstock
Nearly two-thirds of French people are considering boycotting US products in the wake of newly-introduced tariffs, a recent study shows.
The study by market researcher Discurv*, conducted after American President Donald Trump announced 25% import tariffs on steel and aluminium from the EU, shows widespread support for a shift in consumer habits.
Read more: Trump tariff row: How much - and what - does the US export to France and vice versa
64% said they are considering switching away from some US products, although this was higher in certain sectors.
Up to 70% of shoppers said they would look to replace American products with French or EU alternatives when buying groceries.
Similar numbers said they would switch to non-American goods in the automotive (65%) and fast food (64%) sectors.
However, the numbers were decidedly lower when it came to e-commerce products, streaming platforms, and social networks, where American brands are dominant and European alternatives are harder to find.
Social and economic reaction
The response is not purely economic - although frequent threats of further tariffs threaten spilling over into a full-blown EU-US trade war – as many goods in these sectors are currently unaffected by the current economic measures in place.
However, it is a social response to the perceived aggression of the new regime in Washington, with Europeans as a whole banding together against the US.
“These results show the extent to which international tensions can have a direct impact on consumer behaviour,” said Managing Director of Discurv Jérôme Labbé.
Currently, one in four French people say they avoid all American products (or as many as possible), and 40% said they would join a wider boycott if a collective movement was launched.
Tensions have flared across the Atlantic since Donald Trump became president in January.
Another recent poll showed nearly three-quarters of French people no longer view the US as an ally of France.
Read more: New poll: How do people in France view relationship with the US?
Last week French politician Raphaël Glucksmann said the Statue of Liberty should be returned to France as these ideas are no longer represented in the US.
Read more: French party leader says Americans should return Statue of Liberty
This led to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying “it’s only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now… so they should be very grateful to our great country.”
Plans by the US to slash the number of consulates in France have seen widespread backlash and protests, including from American citizens who live in Europe.
Read more: Update: Americans protest possible consulate closures across France
*Study carried out by the Discurv institute from 13 to 16 March 2025 among a sample of 1,000 French people representative of the French population in terms of region, gender, age and social class
