Michigan Border Town Loses Canadian Customers After Policy Changes

In the year since Donald Trump’s second inauguration, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. has seen a 23.8% decline in Canadian visitors, as noted by local residents like Tom Stephenson and business owners such as Damon Lieurance. While some businesses report a rebound in Canadian clientele, the overall situation is attributed to both lingering COVID-19 effects and Canadian discontent over Trump’s tariffs. Many believe that relations between the U.S. and Canada will improve despite current challenges. Local business owners express concerns about long-term impacts on their operations, linking decreased visitor numbers to broader trends rather than solely political decisions.