Buy Canadian: There’s an app for that

What is the status of the Trump tariffs?

It’s entirely possible that by the time this is published, the status of the tariffs will have changed multiple times. The tariff situation is, for lack of a better word, fluid.

That said, as of mid-February 2025, the US promised to implement a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports — starting March 4, 2025. Donald Trump also promised to introduce a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods exported to the US with an exception of energy products, which are subject to a 10% tariff.

In response, Canada has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods from the US, including beer, wine, bourbon, household appliances and a variety of food and drink.

Initially the US tariffs on Canadian goods were set to start on Feb 4, 2025, but a last-minute delay pushed the start date to March 4, 2025.

Government actions aside, our strong and mighty population of citizens is hoping to do our part, with an increasing number of Canadians cancelling vacations planned to the US and a growing movement to only buy products made in Canada.

It can be tedious and confusing to look at every label at the store to know its origins. Thankfully, app developers are stepping up to the plate to help make it easier.

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Oh S'Canada: iPhone and Android offer apps to help you buy Canadian made products

If you’re a Canadian who wants to do your part to buy Canadian products, whether you have an iPhone or an Android, there is an app for that.

Apple iPhone buy Canadian app

If you own an Apple iPhone, you can download the free O SCANada application from the App Store. The app allows you to search a brand, or scan a bar code and learn more about where the product is from. The app will also make suggestions of products and brands that are Canadian.

The O SCANada app is powered by AI, and comes with a caveat. It’s only as good as the most recent information available on the product and could be outdated. It is recommended that you use the app as a starting point, but if you want to be really sure, do your own research to make sure you’re buying Canadian.

So, it’s not perfect, but user reviews seem mostly pleased with it right out of the gate, and it’s a great tool for giving you ideas. And, like all AI tools, the more it gets used, the more it will learn and the better the information it will provide is.

“As people are using the app, they might find products that aren’t being suggested to them,” app developer Ryan Checora told Global News.

“We want to give them a platform where they can give us those products and we can integrate that into the app and have that fed back to people as well. We’re hoping it will kind of be a collaborative thing where people will use the app and it will improve as it goes on as we add more options for people.”

While the app is currently only available on iPhone, Checora told Global News it will be available for Android soon.

Android buy Canadian app

For Android users who want to buy Canadian made products, you can find the Shop Canadian app in Google Play.

This free application for Android allows you to scan barcodes to see where a product is made to be able to prioritize buying Canadian made products.

The reviews for this app aren’t great, with some users complaining that it’s inconsistent and clearly in its infancy. But so is the impact of the potential Trump tariffs. So, it goes without saying that the longer Canadian goods are hit with heavy tariffs south of the border, the more apps like this will get used, and the more they will improve to feed the growing consumer appetite to buy Canadian.

Sources

1. Reuters: Canadians cancel trips, ban American booze after Trump's tariffs (Feb 3, 2025)

2. Apple: O SCANada

3. Global News: Alberta family designs app to help Canadians buy Canadian (Feb 9, 2025)

4. Google Play: Shop Canadian