Amazon selling Canada as 51st state merchandise

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Companies marketing through Amazon are capitalizing on recent controversies created by U.S. President Donald Trump. Consumers can find hats, shirts and flags made by companies that refer to Canada as the 51st state.

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On the other side of the commercial and political divide, consumers can find products from the same companies proclaiming Canada is not for sale and some that say F**k Trump: Buy Canadian.

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Reflections of other Trump-driven controversies involving other parts of the world are also showing up on clothing products. For example, other hats proclaim Greenland is not for sale or the Panama Canal is not for sale.

The sale of the 51st state merchandise has sparked controversy and outrage among Canadians, reports CTV.

Amid a renewed call for Canadians to support local businesses and products rather than relying on international companies like Amazon, there have been calls for Amazon to discontinue the sale of such items. An online petition was started this week to pressure the company into removing these products from its platform. To date, almost 800 signatures have been gathered.

Amazon’s policy regarding controversial merchandise is designed to prohibit the sale of products that promote, incite or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual or religious discrimination. However, the effectiveness of this policy can vary, as seen with the sale of “51st state” merchandise referencing Canada.

Generally, Amazon uses a combination of AI and manual reviews to enforce its policies, removing millions of products annually for violating guidelines. However, that doesn’t stop controversial items from appearing, due to the vast number of listings and the open nature of its marketplace.

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Meanwhile, the Canadian government has faced pressure since 2020 to review how Amazon operates in Canada, reports CBC. This has involved discussions about promoting Canadian-made products and ensuring that foreign companies comply with Canadian regulations. More recently, the focus on Amazon has been on its decision to end its operations in Quebec.

Internationally, Amazon operates in many countries, offering a diverse range of products tailored to local tastes and preferences. For instance, in Europe, Amazon has a strong presence in countries like the U.K., Germany and Italy, and is growing in markets like Sweden and Poland. It hosts a variety of cultural and nationalistic items related to different countries. These can include humorous or satirical merchandise featuring national symbols, flags or slogans.

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