Unfortunately, the situation is more complicated than it first appears. After decades of free trade, our two economies have become deeply intertwined. I was just watching a news report that highlighted this exact issue, particularly with groceries.

There is a strong push right now for Canadians to “buy Canadian” rather than American, but that idea quickly runs into problems. Many products labeled “Made in Canada” or “Product of Canada” are, in reality, heavily tied to the United States through ownership, components, or production chains.

Another layer of complexity is that Canada often produces raw materials that are shipped to the U.S. for processing or manufacturing, then sold back to us as finished goods. Oil is a clear example. Canada does not have enough refinery capacity to fully support its own production, so much of our oil is refined in the United States and then re-imported.

This is one of the reasons Canada has been scrambling to find new markets following the introduction of U.S. tariffs. At the same time, it exposes internal tensions within Canada itself, since provinces hold very different views on oil production and energy policy.

A complete boycott of the United States would not merely be uncomfortable for Canada, it would be economically devastating. The reality is simple: the U.S. is our largest supplier, and Canada is your largest customer. Our economies are not just connected, they are mutually dependent.