The United States and Canada’s border towns, which were struck by the Trump’s commercial war

At the end of a waitress, Christina Lambert used its chapter in Akumin: Canadian and American money.

But weeks have passed since she did so.

The shipping companies, the restaurant in which it operates, is one of the first places that people can obtain after crossing the borders of the United States and Canada between Sarina, Ontario and Port Horon, Michigan.

The Blue Water Bridge, which connects the United States and Canada, is in view of the restaurant windows.

“Many people used to come and say” we are here for the sake of show. “I have never heard it recently,” she says.

The border cities almost immediately noticed when US President Donald Trump began to impose a tariff on countries around the world, and he said he wanted to make Canada the 51st American country – because the number of Canadians crossing the borders decreased.

The border crossings between the United States and Canada have decreased by 17 % since Trump began bringing the customs tariff, according to CBP data.

Canadian car trips to the United States decreased by approximately 32 % compared to March 2024, according to Canada statistics.

Like many cities that are transported along the limits with an area of ​​5525 miles (8,891 km), Port Horon and Sarinian economies are linked and in some respects depend on each other. Port Huron is a manufacturing city of less than 30,000 people with the city center and a lot of retail, providing visitors with an attractive opportunity for a daily trip.

On a day when there is little traffic, a Sarinia resident can cross the border and be in Michigan within minutes.

Many of these cities faced its first test in more than five years when the Covid-19 gate closed 19 months and left the local economies to reel.

Now, they are witnessing a second economic success due to Trump’s trade war, as many Canadians choose “Canadian purchase” – the purchase of Canadian -made goods – and reduce travel to the United States in response to the tense relationship between the two neighboring countries.

One place is feeling in Sarina, fee -free, and the last place where you can buy goods before leaving Canada and entering the United States. The shelves of perfumes, alcoholic beverages are full of parking and parking are empty since the tariff tensions began.

Barbara Barrett, Executive Director of the Liberal Borders Association, says that some of the 32 home borders in Canada have seen a 80 % decrease in sales since Trump returned to the White House. Most stores have seen a 50-60 % decrease in business.

“We rely 100 % on border travel,” she says about duty. “Our stores are often pillars of these societies; societies depend on.”

Although the crossing in Port Horon-Sirinia is better than most of them, on Friday in May, the driver of the Sarnia fees is almost empty.

This is the new rule.

On the weekend on Easter – it is usually one of the most crowded per year, as Canadians benefit from the break to stop in a favorite restaurant and go to the church service in Port Horon – the cars were few and far apart, and sales were not what you should have, she says.

“We are suffering from side damage to the border,” Mrs. Li says about her second generation family work.

Mrs. Lee notes that people who live in border cities often cross the border several times a week. She has, for example, a mailbox at a shipping facility in Port Horon, which she visits regularly, as well as her neighbors.

Mayor Ashord says that people through the blue water bridge also feel the effects.

I heard from both the inhabitants of its city and the Canadians frustrated by the growing tension among nations.

On the national level, a 10 % decrease in Canadian tourism will cost the United States up to 14,000 jobs and 2.1 billion dollars (1.56 billion pounds), according to the American Travel Society.

Michigan is one of the places that are likely to see the impact of this effect. In 2023, Canadian visitors spent $ 238 million in the state, according to tourism officials.

His mayor says this money is necessary for border cities such as Port Horon.

“I hope people in Washington will start understanding what they are doing for people,” she says. “We are not responsible for this, that the (federal) government put us in this position and now we have to deal with it with respect.”

“We need each other,” she says.