Border Businesses Brace for Losses as B.C. Renews U.S. Boycott and Canada Targets 700 Products
Updated
Updated · Vancouver Sun · Aug 31
Border Businesses Brace for Losses as B.C. Renews U.S. Boycott and Canada Targets 700 Products
2 articles · Updated · Vancouver Sun · Aug 31
Summary
A renewed boycott call from B.C. Premier David Eby is hitting border merchants just as traffic had begun recovering, with businesses on both sides of the crossing warning of fresh sales and staffing pressure.
The push came after Canada-U.S. trade talks were suspended and President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on Canada; Ottawa replied with dollar-for-dollar tariffs on more than 700 U.S. products starting Sept. 8.
Peace Arch Duty Free says the latest trade-war escalation has reversed gains seen since mid-April, after the shop had already lost about 80% of business in 2025 and cut to a skeleton staff.
Point Roberts businesses that depend heavily on Canadians are also feeling the drop: International Marketplace said sales fell 21% in the last week, complicating staffing and orders for perishables.
A recent cross-border business survey found food, retail and tourism firms overwhelmingly reported damage from fewer Canadian visitors, and a quarter of those fearing for survival said they had cut hours, laid off staff or raised prices.