Western Washington University

12/04/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 12/04/2025 15:18

WWW’s Laurie Trautman will speak about the economic toll brought by U.S.-Canada trade tensions

WWW's Laurie Trautman will speak about the economic toll brought by U.S.-Canada trade tensions

December 4, 2025

Laurie Trautman, director of the WWU Border Policy Research Institute, will speak to the Bellingham City Council Monday about Bellingham's economic relationship with British Columbia and how the decline in Canadian travel is impacting the region.

Trautman is scheduled to speak at the City Council's Committee of the Whole at 1:30 p.m. and will share preliminary results of BPRI's ongoing survey of cross-border travelers, a collaboration with Whatcom Council of Governments.

She'll also share data from a survey of local businesses conducted in collaboration with the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce. About half of those responding to the survey last summer said their businesses had been harmed by the drop in the number of Canadians crossing the border.

In response to aggressive political rhetoric, fear about the U.S. border crossing experience and steep U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, many Canadians are choosing to stay away from the U.S.

Tariffs on Canadian goods also hurts non-travel related businesses. A 50 percent tariff on Canadian aluminum, for example, squeezes the region's microbreweries.

For many businesses in Whatcom County, the drop in Canadian travelers is delaying post-pandemic recovery, Trautman said.

"Cross-border travel was steadily resuming, and just as things were getting back to normal for businesses that cater to Canadian visitors, this unprecedented disruption occurred in the broader Canada - US relationship," Trautman said.

The Bellingham City Council meets at City Hall, 210 Lottie St. Meetings can also be seen online on the city's website, the city's YouTube channel, and on BTV Comcast channels 321 and 10.

About the Border Policy Research Institute

The Border Policy Research Institute (BPRI) at Western Washington University is a multi-disciplinary institute that undertakes research that informs policymakers on matters related to the Canada - U.S. border, particularly in the British Columbia - Washington state region.

Western Washington University published this content on December 04, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 04, 2025 at 21:18 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]