On March 28, the mayors of Canada, Mexico and the United States issued a joint statement on the benefits of North American Free and Fair Trade, arguably to counter the Trump administration’s economic right-wing populist narrative. They cited influential statistics from 2022, arguing that the bilateral trade agreements had supported approximately 17 million jobs, causing the tariffs to hit local businesses the hardest. 

The statement ended with a message of unity against the tariffs: “We urge national leaders to put our communities first, end the trade war and keep our countries strong with free and fair trade. Our families, businesses and workers depend on it.”

Public opinion surveys conducted by CNN/SQL Server Reporting Services showed that 61% of Americans and 72% of young adults disapprove of the Trump administration’s tariff plans. An estimated 67% of Gen Z respondents said they have changed their consumer habits in anticipation of the tariffs.

Margaret Grace, a sophomore studying global studies and history, said she was disappointed with how the current administration is handling the U.S.-Canada relations. She expressed dismay about how public perception of Americans has shifted among Canadians and Mexicans, however, she states that this reaction is justified. 

“Canada used to be a really good ally for us to have, especially in terms of trade, and I think it’s really upsetting how fast President Trump has managed to ruin that relationship,” Grace said.

Young people across Canada and Mexico have taken the initiative to boycott American goods and prioritize locally made products. In many industries within Canada, there are signs to showcase Canadian-made goods to incentivise buying local goods – notably in the “Buy Canadian” movement.

Diana Schweitz, a third-year student at the University of British Columbia, commented on the implementation of the tariffs. Schweitz finished her K-12 education in the U.S. and moved to British Columbia for college, giving her a unique perspective on the changing U.S.-Canada relations – which she described as awkward and deeply nuanced. 

“Canada hasn’t taken such a bold statement or a side on something in a while. This is the first time that collectively businesses and corporations are pushing for being pro-Canada,” Schweitz said. 

Her recent experiences with going to stores and businesses included a flurry of different signs pointing to whether or not a product has Canadian origins, with many places committing to not selling American goods.

“It’s hard to wrap my head around, because I like supporting Canada and I live here, and I’m grateful towards Canada’s government,” Schweitz said. “But the flip side is that my family is still in the States and they are being directly impacted by all of this, and I think a lot more about the small businesses in the U.S.”

Andrea Vela, a Mexican immigrant currently living in Canada and pursuing a career in film, touched on her family’s experience back home in Mexico. She mentioned that her family has noticed a visible price increase for many goods in Mexico, with many people protesting in the streets. 

“We are supportive of our family, and we consider every single Mexican person a part of our family, however, we do agree that (the deportations) have impacted our communities, and it will continue to impact our economy,” Vela said. 

Currently, the Mexican government has set off numerous programs to help deportees find housing, social services and jobs, which has put a strain on the country’s economic resources. 

“It has been hard on people, work has been hard to find, and housing has been harder,” she said.

Vela said that when she went back to Mexico to visit, she was surprised to see the costs of goods identical to those of buying things with the U.S. dollar, however, wages were not adjusted for localized inflation. 

“I, as a barista in Canada, was earning the same amount of money as my mother, a high school principal,” Vela said.

Currently, there is broad agreement between many young people around U.S. tariffs, with important narratives from our northern and southern allies.