Trump’s Trade War Chills US-Canada Border Towns

CorporateNews24 Desk: Kristina Lampert used to end her waitressing shifts by sorting her tips into two piles—Canadian cash and American. But lately, she hasn’t bothered.

At Freighters, the restaurant where she works in Port Huron, Michigan, the usual flow of Canadian customers has slowed to a trickle. Just minutes from the Blue Water Bridge, which connects the U.S. and Canada, the eatery once thrived on cross-border visitors.

“A lot of people used to come over and say, ‘We’re here for the view,’” Lampert recalls. “I haven’t heard that at all recently.”

Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his aggressive tariff policies—including threats to make Canada the “51st state”—border towns like Port Huron and its Canadian neighbor, Sarnia, Ontario, have felt the sting.

A Sharp Decline in Crossings

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), crossings between the two nations have dropped 17% since Trump’s latest tariffs took effect. Statistics Canada reports an even steeper decline—car trips from Canada to the U.S. fell 32% compared to March 2024.

For communities along the 5,525-mile border, this isn’t just a statistic—it’s an economic gut punch.

Port Huron, a manufacturing and retail hub of under 30,000 people, relies heavily on Canadian day-trippers. Sarnia residents used to zip across the bridge in minutes for shopping, dining, and services. Now, many are staying home—either out of protest or financial caution.

“Buy Canadian” Movement Hurts Businesses

The tension isn’t just about tariffs—it’s about sentiment. Many Canadians are choosing to “buy Canadian” and avoid U.S. trips, wary of worsening relations.

At Sarnia Duty Free, the last stop before entering the U.S., the shelves are **stocked full**, but the parking lot is eerily empty.

“We’re suffering because of collateral damage at the border,” says Tania Lee, whose family runs the store. Easter weekend—typically one of their busiest—was a bust, with far fewer customers than usual.

Barbara Barrett, executive director of the Frontier Duty Free Association, says some Canadian border shops have seen sales plummet by 80%, with most reporting 50-60% losses.

*”Our stores are pillars of these communities,” she says. *”When they suffer, the whole town feels it.”

A Repeat of Pandemic-Era Struggles

Border towns are no strangers to hardship. When COVID-19 shut crossings for 19 months, local economies nearly collapsed. Now, Trump’s trade war is delivering a second blow.

Port Huron Mayor Anita Ashford hears the frustration daily—from Michigan residents who miss their Canadian neighbors and from Canadians who feel unwelcome.

“I hope people in Washington understand what they’re doing to real people,” she says. “We didn’t create this mess, but we’re the ones dealing with it.”

The economic fallout could be severe. The U.S. Travel Association warns that a 10% drop in Canadian tourism could cost America 14,000 jobs and $2.1 billion in lost revenue.

In Michigan alone, Canadian visitors spent $238 million in 2023—money that keeps border towns like Port Huron afloat.

“We Need Each Other”

Despite the tensions, Mayor Ashford remains hopeful.

“We need each other,” she insists. “This border isn’t just a line on a map—it’s where we live, work, and depend on each other.”

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For now, waitresses like Kristina Lampert are left counting fewer tips, shop owners like Tania Lee are staring at empty parking lots, and mayors like Anita Ashford are pleading for Washington to see the human cost of this trade war.

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