Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is experiencing economic challenges as a significant decrease in Canadian visitors impacts the border town’s economy, primarily due to U.S. trade tensions and stricter immigration policies. Passenger car traffic over the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge dropped 44% in April, contributing to a wider trend of a 20.2% decline in Canadian travel to the U.S. This downturn threatens the tourism industry, which supports nearly 10% of American jobs, with projections indicating a potential loss of over 230,000 jobs and significant drops in visitor spending.
