Point Roberts businesses suffer from cross-border trade war

While Canadians are fighting in a trade war against hefty tariffs that seem to be changing by the hour, a small American town of just over 1,000 people is feeling the pain firsthand.

Businesses in Point Roberts, Wash., — which is located on the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula — have been weathering a major economic dip ever since U.S. tariffs came into effect.

“We’ve had people say, ‘As long as that fellow is president, we are not coming back anymore,” said Brian Calder, former chair of the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce.

The 13-square-kilometre peninsula, which is cut off from the rest of Washington state, suffered badly during the pandemic. Point Roberts is on even rockier ground since the trade war started, with 90 per cent of its economy tied to Canadians who cross the border, according to Calder, a long-time resident, dual citizen, and former Vancouver city councillor.

“There goes the restaurant business, there goes the marketplace, there goes the golf course, there goes the marina,” he said.

“Every one of them is under the gun, and it’s questionable whether or not they are going to survive this.”

For the Salt Water Café, the outlook is bleak.

“We were hopeful of this year, until the tariffs came into place,” said café owner Tamran Hansen.

“I’m down 40 per cent, maybe 50 per cent, and I’ve had this business nine years.”

Hansen says she’s had to scale back hours at both her businesses and lay off nearly 80 per cent of her staff because Canadians are staying home.

The frustrating financial reality is taking its toll emotionally.

“We’ve heard quite a few stories of people being treated differently in Canada, and it is a stressful time for everyone,” she said.

“But I think we all need to take a step back and just realize we’re all in this together.”

Calder points out that we are all on the same side and has created a bumper sticker saying, “Point Roberts, Wa. supports Canada.”

And he echoes the message found at the nearby Blaine border crossing.

“The Peace Arch says it all, “Children of a common mother, may these gates never close, brethren working together,’” he said.

“Trump should be taken up there by the ear and made to read those and realize for 120 years that recognition has worked.”

Calder has written to B.C. Premier David Eby asking that Point Roberts be spared from Canadian retaliation, given its unique circumstance, so that Little America can get back to normal.