Since the announcement of President Trump’s intention to impose tariffs on Canadian goods, businesses, especially in border communities like Whatcom County, have been waiting to see how impactful these tariffs would be. Unfortunately, since the tariffs first took effect in March 2025, many businesses that depended on Canadian traffic are suffering as border crossings have sharply declined. According to Western Washington University’s Border Policy Research Institute, border traffic over the past three weeks at the Peace Arch, Lynden, and Sumas crossings has been down approximately 30% since this time last year. While we navigate all the many unknowns under these new regulations, it seems that now more than ever, it is vitally important that we as a community to support our local businesses.