More than a year into Canada-US trade tensions, border crossings from New Brunswick to Maine continue to decline.
President Donald Trump’s rhetoric of the “51st state” has strained relations between the two countries, both in terms of tourism and trade.
In Woodstock, NB, just minutes from the Maine border, residents say it’s no surprise that Canadians are still reluctant to cross.
“I haven’t been there since COVID… because Mr. Trump is president there, and I have no use for him,” said resident Diane Bernard.
Canadians’ return trips from the U.S. fell 22 per cent in January compared to a year earlier, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.
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It was the 13th straight monthly decline.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 676,000 crossings at Maine’s land borders between October 2025 and March of this year. This figure is approximately 16 percent lower than the same time period the previous year.
Last year, Maine Governor Janet Mills traveled to the Maritimes and met with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt in an effort to ease relations between the two historically friendly trading partners.
Woodstock, NB, resident Stephen Whalen used to travel to Maine every week but now says he doesn’t go at all. He said he might reconsider when there is a change in the presidency.
“We are a fiercely independent country, and we love our country and when someone tries to belittle us, we think everyone should be treated the same,” Whalen said.
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