In the quiet town of Port Huron, Michigan, where the Blue Water Bridge connects the U.S. to Sarnia, Ontario, signs of economic strain are becoming increasingly visible. For residents like Kristina Lampert, who works at a local restaurant called Freighters, the changes have been unmistakable.
Lampert, once accustomed to sorting tips into American and Canadian currency at the end of each shift, now only deals with U.S. bills. The restaurant, situated just steps from the international crossing, used to draw Canadian visitors eager for a meal with a view. Those diners have become rare.
“A lot of people used to come over and say ‘we’re here for the view,’” Lampert recalled. “I haven’t heard that at all recently.”
The decline in cross-border travel comes in the wake of a sweeping set of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Since their introduction, the number of Canadian vehicles entering the U.S. has dropped sharply. According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, border crossings between the two countries are down roughly 17 percent. Statistics Canada reports that Canadian car trips to the U.S. have fallen by nearly 32 percent compared to March of last year.
Port Huron and Sarnia, like many towns spread along the 5,525-mile border, have long maintained intertwined economies. With a population under 30,000, Port Huron relies on Canadian visitors for much of its retail and service sector activity. For residents of Sarnia, crossing into Michigan was once a routine, minutes-long trip. Now, many are choosing to stay home.
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The communities had already endured a major disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the border was closed for 19 months. Many are now bracing for what feels like a second economic hit, this time driven by policy rather than public health.
In Sarnia, the local duty-free store is feeling the impact. The once-busy lot is now nearly empty, and shelves of liquor and perfume sit untouched. Barbara Barrett, executive director of the Frontier Duty Free Association, said some of Canada’s 32 land-border duty-free shops have seen sales plunge by as much as 80 percent since Trump returned to office. Most, she noted, are down by at least 50 to 60 percent.
“We’re 100 percent reliant on travel across the border,” Barrett said. “Our stores are often pillars of these communities. Communities depend on them.”
Tania Lee, who runs the Sarnia Duty Free with her family, said this year’s Easter weekend—usually one of the busiest times for cross-border shopping and dining—was a stark departure from the norm. Traffic was light, and business suffered.
“We are suffering because of collateral damage at the border,” Lee said. Her family-run operation, like many in the region, relies on regular foot traffic from Canadian shoppers. She and her neighbors routinely cross into Michigan, even for everyday errands like picking up packages from U.S.-based mailboxes.
On the U.S. side of the Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron Mayor Anita Ashford has been hearing concerns from her constituents and from Canadians frustrated by the heightened trade tensions.
A national decline in Canadian tourism could carry widespread consequences. According to the U.S. Travel Association, a 10 percent drop in visitors from Canada could result in the loss of up to 14,000 American jobs and $2.1 billion in business activity. Michigan, which saw Canadian visitors spend $238 million in 2023 alone, is expected to bear a significant portion of that loss.
“This money is essential for border towns like Port Huron,” Ashford said. “I hope people in Washington will start to understand what they’re doing to the people.”
She stressed that local residents were not responsible for the federal trade decisions but were now left to manage the fallout.
“We need each other,” Ashford said. “We’re neighbors. We depend on this relationship.”
Source: BBC
1 comment
Maybe don’t vote for a fascist who hates the freedom and independence of your trade partners and you won’t go bankrupt because your trade partners stop doing business with you. These towns shot themselves in the face and Canada has 0 sympathy for their resulting economic collapse. You get what you pay for. Enjoy!