US citizens begin boycott of ‘old Europe’

Date: 03/04/03

By Peter Chapman

AMERICAN consumers are shunning French and German products because of 'old Europe's' stance on the war in Iraq, a US study revealed this week.

This showed that 64 of Americans are "much" or "somewhat" less favourable toward French companies and their products than before current tensions started. Nearly a third - 29 - also said they would boycott or avoid French imports.

More than half (52) of the 1,003 respondents said they were much or somewhat less favourable to German products, with 19 considering a boycott. However the survey, conducted by consultancy Fleishman-Hillard International and research company Wirthlin, said many in the US struggle to name French and German product brands.

Among the top ten German brands named was Heineken - actually a Dutch beer.

At the same time, the survey said American consumers were more favourable towards UK products than before the Iraq crisis began - with 60 saying they were much or somewhat more favourable to British imports.

However, the biggest impact of the war trade tensions could be on the US's closest neighbour - Canada. Although only 35 of respondents signalled less enthusiasm for Canadian goods, the US market is proportionately far more important to Canadian firms than to European ones.

Philip Diehl, co-chairman of Fleishman-Hillard's public affairs practice, said: "This study proves the anecdotal evidence we were hearing before the war - that Americans would move away from French and German products."

However, as American fast food outlets are busy re-branding their French fries as 'freedom fries' Diehl said another import has been unaffected. "The French kiss remains," he said.

American consumers are shunning French and German products because of 'old Europe's' stance on the war in Iraq, a US study has revealed.