Point Roberts, a tiny Washington state town on the border with Canada, is being cripped by President Donald Trump.
The area is facing an economic crisis due to Trump's trade war with the nation to its north, according to a report in The New Republic.
Nick Kiniski, owner of Kiniski's Reef, one of only three remaining restaurants in the town, is struggling to keep his business afloat. Once a thriving tourist destination, Point Roberts now stands nearly deserted, with its economy heavily dependent on Canadian visitors who are no longer coming.
The town's unique geography, surrounded by water on three sides and connected to Canada by land, makes it particularly vulnerable to changes in U.S.-Canada relations.
But Trump's threats of tariffs and his suggestion of using "economic force" against Canada have resulted in a swift and severe Canadian backlash, epitomized by the "Elbows Up" movement - a call for Canadians to keep their dollars at home.
Local businesses are feeling the impact acutely. The Rubber Duck Museum is relocating to Canada due to plummeting sales and uncertainty over tariffs. Restaurants and bars are operating at a fraction of their former capacity. Even those whose owners are sympathetic to Trump, like liquor store owner Larry Musselwhite, acknowledge the damage being done to the local economy.
"Point Roberts is shrinking, shuttering, exhausted," wrote reporter Chris Cannon. "The quirky little exclave has become an early victim of Donald Trump's trade war, and a potent metaphor for the fraying relationship between the United States and Canada."
The situation has evolved beyond mere economic boycott into a climate of fear and uncertainty. Increased border scrutiny and longer wait times are deterring even long-time visitors and dual citizens from crossing. The community's attempts to revive tourism through events like "Elbows Down, Sunglasses On" have provided only temporary relief.
Trump's mischaracterization of the U.S.-Canada trade relationship and his imposition of tariffs on critical Canadian imports have not only devastated border communities like Point Roberts but also threaten to undermine the broader U.S. economy and its global standing. As Canada seeks new trade partners, the U.S. risks becoming increasingly isolated, with border towns serving as a stark illustration of the consequences of this misguided trade policy.
