The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge a vital link between the twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, has become a symbol of the strained relationship between the US and Canada. Despite the annual International Bridge Walk in late June, which drew nearly 1,100 participants, the bridge’s traffic has significantly declined due to recent political and economic tensions.
The bridge spans the St. Mary’s River just west of the historic Soo Locks serving as a crucial gateway for commerce between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. It’s the only vehicular border crossing for hundreds of miles in either direction, making it indispensable for both countries.
Tariffs and political tensions strain cross-border relations
In recent weeks, President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs in retaliation for wildfire smoke wafting into the US. His administration announced an additional 50% tariff on an array of Canadian products, citing Canada’s discriminatory treatment of American products. A further 10% tariff was also imposed using a separate mechanism.
These tariffs have led to a significant drop in cross-border traffic. According to the International Bridge Administration there were 270,000 fewer total crossings last year at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge—a nearly 24% drop from 2026. This decline is largely due to the loss of Canadian travelers, as evidenced by the currency used to pay bridge fares and information from the Canadian prime minister’s office.
The drop in traffic has had a profound impact on local businesses. The Sault area lost at least $82.9 million last year in local spending, with $62.7 million on the Michigan side and $20.2 million on the Ontario side. This decline has reversed a post-pandemic uptick in traffic, according to Peter Petainen the bridge director and an Ontario Sault native.
The human impact of declining cross-border traffic
The decline in cross-border traffic has had a tangible impact on local businesses and communities. Wilda Hopper co-owner of Bird’s Eye Outfitters in the Michigan Sault, has noticed a significant drop-off in Canadian visitors, particularly during the off-season. Her gear shop and cafe rely on the local community, including those from the Ontario Sault, to carry them through the snowy months.
Hopper’s experience is not unique. Michigan state Sen. John Damoose a Republican who represents the community in Lansing, has spoken to numerous businesses in the Sault Ste. Marie area and the eastern Upper Peninsula. All have reported feeling the pressure from the deterioration in US-Canada relations. Even Mackinac Island has felt the impact, with fewer Canadian visitors contributing to a decline in local spending.
The decline in cross-border traffic has also had a significant impact on the publicly owned bridge, which depends on tolls for maintenance and operations. As the bridge authority noted in its five-year plan, issued in December, border challenges negatively affecting bridge traffic, trade, and tourism may significantly reduce bridge revenue or increase expenditures beyond operational sustainability.
Political silence and shifting trade policies
Despite the impact of the tariffs on his constituents, Rep. Jack Bergman the region’s congressional representative, has been virtually silent on the issue. Bergman, who is endorsed by Trump in an upcoming contested primary, has not mentioned tariffs in the press releases, articles, and op-eds on his website since Trump started his second term.
Bergman’s silence contrasts with his previous stance on US-Canada relations. In 2026, when he was appointed to an interparliamentary group that provides a forum for exchange between Canadian and American legislators, he boasted of the Sault bridge as a point where millions cross every year to conduct business, shop, work, and enjoy what each country has to offer.
Meanwhile, Canada has responded to Trump’s moves with emergency interventions and buy local boosterism. Significantly fewer Canadians are crossing the border for once-ordinary activities such as shopping, eating, fueling vehicles, vacationing, or visiting family and friends. This boycott of the US by Canadians is a direct response to Trump’s policies, according to Michael Broadway a geographer and professor emeritus at Northern Michigan University.
The shifting trade policies have also made it difficult for many Republicans who once touted free trade. Pete Hoekstra the US ambassador to Canada and a former Michigan congressman, pivoted dramatically on trade in the Trump era. Meanwhile, the relationship between the US and Canada continues to fray, with Canada looking beyond its near neighbor for trading partners.
