B.C.'s neighbours in Washington 'upset with treatment of Canada' amid Trump tariffs

While British Columbians and Washingtonians have long enjoyed a close relationship, those ties have hit a rocky point, and our neighbours down south are sharing their concerns.

Over the past few months, B.C. residents have expressed that they’ll no longer be taking trips to Washington state, which has long been a popular destination for travel and shopping.

This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada and his repeated threats to make the country the 51st state.

The lack of British Columbians frequenting popular cross-border towns like Bellingham and Blaine hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Ron Judd, the editor of Cascadia Daily News, a digital daily and print weekly newspaper published in Bellingham, told Daily Hive that he’s seen “a lot of community sentiment… that there are people very upset here about everything that’s going on in the country.”

“But I feel they’re acutely upset about the treatment of Canada,” he added.

Judd highlighted that B.C. and Washington’s relationship has been bolstered not just by proximity but also by their shared relationship as they make up the Cascadia region.

“The way that I look at it, big picture, Americans and Canadians obviously have an affinity going back a long part of both of our histories … but I think the northern border states, there’s a strong affinity… like you’re our neighbours. And to me, particularly in our state as the border state in the northwest, being part of the Cascadia bioregion, it’s even stronger,” he explained.

A symbol of unity

The Peace Arch monument is located at the Canadian and American border between Surrey and Blaine and serves as a symbol of that neighbourly connection.

Completed in 1920, the arch is meant to symbolize the peaceful relationship between both nations, and it was erected and constructed by both Washingtonians and British Columbians, who worked together.

The arch is also inscribed with powerful messaging, signifying that close bond. On the Washington side, the monument reads “Children of a Common Mother.”

“Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity” is inscribed on part of the monument facing B.C.

Within the arch, it reads, “May These Gates Never Be Closed.”

Blaine Mayor Mary Lou Steward told Daily Hive that she looks at the Peace Arch as “the symbol of the friendship between [her] native country Canada and [her] adopted country of the U.S.”

“Therefore, it saddens and angers me, as I believe it saddens most of the citizens of Blaine, to see the way that the President of the U.S. is treating Canada. These tariffs make no sense and will hurt many people in both countries needlessly,” she stated.

“I have heard that the cross-border traffic is down 20 to 40 per cent. This hurts our businesses [which] have always appreciated and depended on our Canadian visitors. We only hope that this trade war does not last long. We very much welcome Canadians to Blaine as we have done for over a hundred years.”

Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund echoed these sentiments, noting that border communities like hers “experience numerous benefits from our relationship with our Canadian neighbors, and the ripple effects of U.S. tariffs spark concerns for our local economy.”

Bellingham residents have also noticed a drop in British Columbians visiting popular shopping destinations in the city, such as Trader Joe’s and Costco, as well as small local businesses, and have been sharing their observations online.

Lund noted that “many Bellingham businesses see a share of their sales affected when there’s a decrease in Canadian shoppers.”

“As Bellingham’s Mayor, I want our B.C. neighbours to know that we continue to be a place that welcomes Canadian visitors. We have a long history of shared values, open cross-border travel and relationships with mutual benefits — for us in Bellingham, that hasn’t changed,” she said.

Washington’s appreciation for B.C.

Many British Columbians — especially those residing in Metro Vancouver — are familiar with the perks that come along with living so close to the U.S. border.

In the past, folks have indulged in a quick drive over the border to get cheaper gas and groceries or to get their hands on unique food products that aren’t sold in Canada. Washington has also been a popular road trip destination for B.C. locals hoping to get in a quick getaway for a long weekend.

Judd notes that many of his fellow Washingtonians feel equally lucky to be located near B.C.

“Here in Whatcom County, we’ve always felt blessed to be so close to, in particular, Vancouver, which is such a wonderful place with such a unique separate culture from ours.”

Judd said he’s always viewed Vancouver as “way cooler” than Seattle.

“We look out our window and see the coast range, so it’s not like there’s some wall separating us, and we feel like we’re connected to everybody up there.”

Keeping communication going

As tensions between Canada and the U.S. remain high, Judd hopes that B.C. and Washington can keep their ties alive despite troubling times.

He acknowledges that Canadians are “understandably angry” with the U.S. government’s decisions and rhetoric but feels that media play a key role in continuing cross-border communication and opening space for conversations around what is currently happening.

“I think it’s important for media people on both sides to… talk to people on the other side of the border, and I think we should share our stories with people so our readers and viewers know what’s going on.”

Judd acknowledged that many Americans have “earned the reputation” for “not really knowing what’s happening in B.C. and the politics in Canada in general.”

But as an editorial writer, he’s hoping to encourage any many readers as he can to take an interest in their northern neighbours and inform themselves of Canadian politics and current events because “it’s necessary” now more than ever.

Within his community, Judd is also collaborating with local institutions like the University of Washington and community officials to host a town hall titled “A Border Between Friends” on March 27 to address “economic, cultural and immigration issues presented by [the U.S.’] new border realities.”

Judd feels strongly that despite the current administration’s negative discourse toward Canada, there’s a “common feeling here, among people across the political divide — which is very diverse in our county — that Canadians are welcome here.”

If you’re a British Columbian who has stopped visiting Washington State or still plans on travelling there, get in touch with us at [email protected], and we may feature you in a future story on the topic.