OTTAWA — Canada’s escalating trade dispute with the United States is beginning to influence how Canadians think about technology, with consumers and businesses increasingly examining alternatives to American digital products and services.

The shift comes as the relationship between Ottawa and Washington faces renewed pressure following the collapse of trade negotiations and the introduction of new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.

Technology has become an increasingly important part of the discussion because Canadian companies and consumers rely heavily on U.S.-based software, cloud services, digital platforms and technology infrastructure.

The latest debate is raising questions about digital sovereignty and whether Canada should strengthen domestic technology capabilities while expanding relationships with technology companies in Europe, Asia and other markets.

Canadian businesses are also watching the situation closely because changing suppliers can involve significant costs, data-migration challenges and compatibility issues.

For technology companies in Canada, however, the shift could create opportunities to develop homegrown software, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure.

The growing interest in non-U.S. technology could become one of the unexpected consequences of the Canada-U.S. trade conflict, potentially accelerating Canada’s push for greater digital independence.