Belgians avoid products from the US, Russia and China, survey shows
Belgians are avoiding buying products from the United States, Russia and China, according to a survey by Kantar released on Monday. The results highlight the impact of the economic and political context on buying behaviour, the market researcher says.
Kantar's survey shows that a majority of Belgians (61 per cent) believe the origin of products is important. Over eight in 10 Belgians say they are buying more Belgian products, while over a quarter are buying more items from other European countries. There are no significant differences between age groups.
Between 33 and 45 per cent of those surveyed also actively avoid products from the US, Russia and China. People aged 55 and over most often tend to avoid Chinese and Russian products. The younger population does not seem to reduce consumption of products from these countries as much.
US products "easy to avoid"
More than a third of Belgians who avoid US products find it very easy to do so, and nearly three-quarters are convinced they could live without them, the survey shows. Belgians cite several reasons for avoiding American products, including tariffs, US withdrawal on environmental issues, and possible environmental negligence by US brands.
According to Kantar, tech companies like Google and Microsoft are less likely to be replaced in the coming years. But brands like Tesla are already facing a sharp decline in sales in Belgium. Burger King, Starbucks and McDonald's have also become less popular.
This study is based on a representative sample of 1,000 adult Belgians. Fieldwork was conducted between 14 and 22 April.
A "Tesla Takedown" protest against Tesla CEO Elon Musk outside a Tesla Store in Berlin. PHOTO © John MACDOUGALL / AFP
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