WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County businesses are suffering from a drop in travel by our neighbors across the border.

Data from the Whatcom Council of Governments shows that the number of B.C. residents traveling south over the border fell nearly 43% from March 2024 to March 2025. This month is forecasting an even bigger drop.

Southbound border crossings by B.C. residents have fallen more than 50% over the first eight days of April compared to the same time last year.

Blaine Mayor Mary Lou Steward says her city has been hit particularly hard by the drop in Canadian visitors.

“Canadians tend to come [to Blaine] for a number of reasons, one to pick up Amazon parcels that get delivered to the U.S. rather than Canada,” Steward said. “That’s number one for our sales tax, so we notice it there.”

Steward adds that she’s seen the local impact across a variety of other industries.

“There are a number of gas stations and they’re all hurting very, very badly,” Steward said. “Number three is dairy products. The cost of milk is cheaper at Edaleen Dairy, so I’m sure they’re down quite a bit as well.”

It comes as Canada’s Prime Minister declared that the country would have to “drastically reduce” its reliance on the U.S. in response to President Trump’s large-scale tariffs on Canadian imports.

Community members have taken part in a series of “Solidarity with Canada” rallies at Peace Arch Park, with the next one set to take place from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.