One of the forgotten parts of the tariff story that is easily overlooked are the mom-and-pop shops on both sides; in this case, on both sides of the rivers separating the United States and Canada—the Detroit River to the south, and the St. Clair River to the north.

As I have mentioned before, I'm a lifelong resident of southeast Michigan. I have many times popped over to Windsor, Canada, and a bit farther north to Sarnia, across from the American port city of Port Huron. This is one of the hidden benefits of living in this area, and the Canadians who travel to the United States, I hear, have frequently said the same.

As some of you might have seen here at RedState previously, I have written about the border relations between our neighbor to us in the northern part of the United States. Opinion: Canadian Prime Minister Carney Responds to American Tariffs From Trump, and So It Begins

Well, the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whom I wrote about last week, is now digging in. If you recall, he said he was very mad at us, in my article, New Canadian PM Says Old Relationship With US Is Over, and Canada Will Match Trump Tariffs:

Things have gotten a bit more touchy, as I read about right HERE

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada's old relationship with the United States, "based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation, is over".

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa after a cabinet meeting, Carney said Canadians must "fundamentally reimagine our economy" in the face of US President Donald Trump's tariffs.

He said Canada would respond with retaliatory tariffs that will have "maximum impact" on the US.

Trump announced on Wednesday he would target imported vehicles and vehicle parts with a 25% tax, stating: "This is permanent."

I'm hoping that Canada didn't just break up with us because that would be awkward

Well, he is not going to back down in the face of the already announced tariffs on Canada, and I would imagine even if he wants to, he can't right now because they have an election at the end of the month to see if his party  which is mostly leftists can hold on the power for another 5 years. Any capitulation to Trump at this time would be seen as a weakness and would give the conservative candidate Pierre Marcel Poilievre a possible lead in the election

Well, Carney did win the election, and now that it is over with, the job of normalizing relations with Canada all over again begins anew; it will start with something we have been very good at in the past.

Trade.

Not the theoretical billions of dollars type of trade, but the everyday border crossings that the border towns have benefited from for decades.

I came across this article in the local hometown paper, The Detroit News, that caught my eye about this:

Not long ago, Canadian shoppers were a familiar sight in shops and restaurants just across the U.S. border in Port Huron. In recent weeks, they’re showing up less often, a shift many attribute to tensions with the Trump administration.

Tariffs and political remarks, including President Donald Trump’s repeated suggestions that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state, have strained relations between the traditional allies and soured Canadians on their southern neighbor, according to folks here.

The fallout has hit communities like Port Huron hard, where the economy typically benefits from steady Canadian foot traffic.

In Port Huron, Michigan, the impact is felt a bit more because of the Canadian town of Sarnia's proximity across the river. As I mentioned, I have been a frequent visitor of both Sarnia and Windsor, right across from Detroit, in the past, and have always enjoyed my jaunts into a foreign country. 

That's a bit of a joke, being Canadian is ALMOST like the 51st state. 

Except that Canadians have never found that funny at all. I know, being I have been almost throttled, on some occasions, by the locals when I said that too loudly:

The number of Canadians entering Michigan began to decline in February, shortly after Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and the downward trend has accelerated. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, passenger vehicle crossings from Canada into Michigan dropped 15% year over year in February to 544,929. The decline grew in March, with crossings down 18% to 641,604 and again in April, dropping 19% to 577,171.

That effect is felt along with border...

The drop was especially pronounced in Port Huron. At the Blue Water Bridge, the number of Canadian travelers arriving by passenger vehicle fell 26% in February to 96,059. In March, traffic was down 29% to 121,666 and in April it plunged 33% to 105,689.

The falloff is hitting retailers, restaurants and others in Port Huron's main business district.

Some local politicians have stepped up to try and calm the nerves of those getting a bit too hyped about this:

Sarnia City Councillor Bill Dennis, a frequent traveler to the United States and vocal supporter of cross-border ties, says the decrease in crossings has more to do with recent delays over the Blue Water Bridge, like an expected two-hour wait over Memorial Day weekend, and Canada's struggles with high inflation and tight household budgets, than politics or anti-American sentiment.

"I'm sure there's the odd person that will not go because of that, but my contention is you're seeing fewer people because the economy is so bad over here that people do not have the disposable income they once had," he said.

That is an incredibly valid point--that the economy in Canada might not be as solid as the one in the United States, even though we are so close together. I know I have benefited from the U.S. dollar being stronger than the Canadian dollar on many occasions; also, when their economy is a bit softer, Canadian people may not be as intent on spending their money freely.

I do hope that the trade situation, not only with Canada but with anyone else around the world, gets settled to everyone's satisfaction and we get back to normal as soon as possible.

I miss my Canadian beer.

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