Are Canadians returning to Whatcom County? Latest numbers offer little solace
U.S. President Donald Trump has made the implementation of tariffs a key component of his second term, including widespread tariffs on Canadian goods.
That policy decision, along with statements by Trump earlier this year suggesting our neighbors to the north should be “the 51st state,” was met with widespread disdain from Canadians, whose response has included the cancellation of vacation plans to the U.S., vows to refrain from purchasing U.S. goods and fewer trips into the U.S. through its shared border with Canada.
Updated data is highlighting the impact Whatcom County businesses continue to see from a drop in Canadian tourism and revenue.
Latest border crossing data
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) recently reported that 5,373,643 individuals traveled into Canada from Washington between June and August in 2024, generally the peak seasonal months for border crossings. During the same months this year, 3,986,180 traveled to Canada — a decrease of about 25%.
The Whatcom Council of Governments tracks border crossing data from Canada through Blaine’s Peace Arch, Pacific Highway, Sumas and Lynden crossings. The group reported an increase in crossings during the summer compared to earlier months in 2025. But compared to 2024, border crossings remained around 29% lower.
Total crossings from Canada into Washington have remained anywhere from 21% to 36% lower year over year each month since February, according to the county’s dashboard, except for July, when the decrease was 14%. Crossings were down 27%, 29% and 26% in August, September and October, respectively.
Local business impact
Back in February, local business owner Hugh Newmark, co-owner and operator of 1-Up Lounge and Cardhaven Games, told The Herald he had experienced a significant decrease in Canadian customers.
“At Cardhaven, we’ve been feeling the impacts since day one,” Newmark said. “Prices are up on every single thing we sell. There’s no availability because manufacturers are now sending less product to the USA, and sadly we’re seeing virtually none of our well-established Canadian clientele we’ve built over the years.”
David Blandford with State of Washington Tourism told The Herald in February that nearly a quarter of the $2.45 billion a year that international visitors spend in Washington comes from Canadian residents visiting Seattle.
In Whatcom County, nearly 12% of taxable retail purchases in a given year are made by Canadians, according to previous reporting by The Herald.
“Washington state values our strong relationship with Canada, particularly with our neighbors in B.C.,” Blandford said at the time. “As our top international market, Canadian visitors play a vital role in our tourism economy.”
Despite the decrease in summer visits year over year, one Whatcom County business owner saw a slight increase in visitors during the summer months compared to the spring.
Betty Be Good Boutique in Birch Bay had an 80% drop in Canadian shoppers from January to April, according to previous reporting by The Herald.
“I don’t count on seeing any Canadians, to be quite frank. I think they’re on a total boycott of American businesses and U.S.-made goods,” Suzanne Smith, owner of Betty Be Good Boutique, told The Herald in April.
Smith recently told The Herald her boutique is still experiencing softened sales revenue, but it did experience a slight reprieve over the summer.
“Some Canadians returned. I would estimate 10% more, but we also had a revival by the visitors from California and Oregon,” Smith told The Herald in October.
Although Smith saw a slight increase during tourism season, she credits a loss of revenue to a general lack of shoppers, both locally and from Canada.
“The fall season is back to depressed sales. In fact, I just ran a year-over-last report, and it’s down 55%. It’s mainly the same issue of cross-border shopping. However, I am seeing less spending locally, too,” Smith said.
Current tariffs on Canadian goods
According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods include:
- 35% tariff on all imports that don’t comply with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) (effective April 2).
- 10% tariff on non-CUSMA compliant potash and energy products (effective April 2).
- 50% tariff on aluminum and steel imports from all countries into the U.S. (effective June 4).
- 25% tariff on all cars and trucks not built in the U.S. (effective April 2).
- 50% tariff on copper (effective August 1).
- 35% tariff on softwood lumber (effective October 14).
- 25% upholstered wooden products and kitchen/bathroom cabinets and vanities (effective October 14).
- Elimination of the U.S. de minimis treatment for low-value shipments. Goods valued at $800 or less are now subject to all applicable duties (effective August 29).
- Goods transshipped to evade the 35% tariff will be penalized with a 40% tariff. For example, if a business tries to avoid the 35% tariff by shipping goods through another country first, the U.S. will penalize that action with an even higher tariff of 40%
This story was originally published November 20, 2025 at 5:20 AM with the headline "Are Canadians returning to Whatcom County? Latest numbers offer little solace."
