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

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.”

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, , that caught my eye about this:

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 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:

“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 miss my Canadian beer.