Border crossings from B.C. to the U.S. kept plummeting in January
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Sid Shniad
Feb 9, 2026, 4:45:44 PM (2 days ago) Feb 9
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https://vancouversun.com/news/border-crossings-to-us-down-january-2026
Vancouver Sun Feb 08, 2026
Border crossings from B.C. to the U.S. kept plummeting in January
The four crossings into Washington state saw a drop of 32 per cent in southbound travellers last month compared to January 2025
By Denise Ryan
Tensions between the U.S. and Canada continued to affect travel at B.C. border
Border crossings from B.C. to the U.S. kept plummeting in January
The four crossings into Washington state saw a drop of 32 per cent in southbound travellers last month compared to January 2025
By Denise Ryan
Tensions between the U.S. and Canada continued to affect travel at B.C. border
crossings in January 2025. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
British Columbians continue to avoid crossing the border to the United States. Traffic data released by the Whatcom Council of Governments shows a 32 per cent drop in January 2026 over numbers from the same month last year at the Peace Arch, Pacific Highway, Lynden and Sumas points of entry combined.
Whether it’s tensions related to the policies of the Trump administration, tariffs, threats of annexation of Greenland and Canada, actions in Venezuela, travel bans, or outrage over the brutal tactics displayed by ICE and U.S. border services agents, Canadians continue to express their feelings through withdrawal of travel dollars.
Data shows 108,289 border crossings in January 2026, down from 158,766 crossings in January 2025, representing approximately 50,000 fewer vehicle crossings, and down from 144,066 in January 2024.
The economic impact of Canada’s aversion to U.S. travel was noted in a congressional report released by the Democrat minority of the U.S. Congress’s joint economic committee in December 2025, which states that in 2024, Canadian tourism contributed $20.5 billion to the U.S. economy and supported 140,000 American jobs.
“The negative impacts of President Trump’s tariff policies have been particularly stark in states along the U.S.-Canada border, which have many businesses that rely on short-term visits by Canadians.”
Of 60 businesses surveyed in Bellingham, the report notes, more than 50 per cent have reported losses due to the decline in visitors from B.C. and they called the drop “devastating.”
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the “Trump slump” is an international phenomenon, and could cost the U.S. more than $15 billion in 2026 if the trend continues.
There has been growing discussion globally about boycotting the World Cup over political turmoil south of the border, with Oke Göttlich, one of the German soccer federation’s 11 vice-presidents, saying recently “the time has come” to “seriously consider and discuss” a boycott.
However unlikely a global boycott of the World Cup might be, British Columbians continue to look for ways to express their lack of support for the current administration.
According to data released in January 2026 by Statistics Canada, the border trend is countrywide. In November 2025 alone, the number of Canadian residents taking return trips to and from the U.S. was down 23.6 per cent over the previous year. Fewer Americans are driving up to Canada as well: The same data set shows the number of trips to Canada by U.S. residents was down nine per cent.
Visits to Canada by overseas residents and the number of Canadian resident return trips from overseas were up by 13.6 per cent in November 2025.
dr...@postmedia.com
British Columbians continue to avoid crossing the border to the United States. Traffic data released by the Whatcom Council of Governments shows a 32 per cent drop in January 2026 over numbers from the same month last year at the Peace Arch, Pacific Highway, Lynden and Sumas points of entry combined.
Whether it’s tensions related to the policies of the Trump administration, tariffs, threats of annexation of Greenland and Canada, actions in Venezuela, travel bans, or outrage over the brutal tactics displayed by ICE and U.S. border services agents, Canadians continue to express their feelings through withdrawal of travel dollars.
Data shows 108,289 border crossings in January 2026, down from 158,766 crossings in January 2025, representing approximately 50,000 fewer vehicle crossings, and down from 144,066 in January 2024.
The economic impact of Canada’s aversion to U.S. travel was noted in a congressional report released by the Democrat minority of the U.S. Congress’s joint economic committee in December 2025, which states that in 2024, Canadian tourism contributed $20.5 billion to the U.S. economy and supported 140,000 American jobs.
“The negative impacts of President Trump’s tariff policies have been particularly stark in states along the U.S.-Canada border, which have many businesses that rely on short-term visits by Canadians.”
Of 60 businesses surveyed in Bellingham, the report notes, more than 50 per cent have reported losses due to the decline in visitors from B.C. and they called the drop “devastating.”
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the “Trump slump” is an international phenomenon, and could cost the U.S. more than $15 billion in 2026 if the trend continues.
There has been growing discussion globally about boycotting the World Cup over political turmoil south of the border, with Oke Göttlich, one of the German soccer federation’s 11 vice-presidents, saying recently “the time has come” to “seriously consider and discuss” a boycott.
However unlikely a global boycott of the World Cup might be, British Columbians continue to look for ways to express their lack of support for the current administration.
According to data released in January 2026 by Statistics Canada, the border trend is countrywide. In November 2025 alone, the number of Canadian residents taking return trips to and from the U.S. was down 23.6 per cent over the previous year. Fewer Americans are driving up to Canada as well: The same data set shows the number of trips to Canada by U.S. residents was down nine per cent.
Visits to Canada by overseas residents and the number of Canadian resident return trips from overseas were up by 13.6 per cent in November 2025.
dr...@postmedia.com
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