B.C. border crossings to Washington nosedive as tariff battle heats up
The summer season used to be a busy one for British Columbians taking shopping day trips or longer vacations to the U.S., but recent data show that the number of border crossings to Washington State from B.C. has continued to drop.
According to the Whatcom Council of Governments’ 2026 Changes in Border Volume data, in August 2026, the volume of southbound vehicles from B.C. to Washington State dropped by nine per cent compared to the same period in 2025.
It’s the second consecutive month of decline, with over 20,000 fewer personal vehicles crossing southbound across the border.
However, when compared to data from just two years ago, the decline in B.C. travellers heading south is even more stark.
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Compared to 2024 statistics, over 120,000 fewer southbound vehicle border crossings were made from B.C. to Washington.
July 2026 also saw a dip in travel, with 13 per cent fewer trips compared to 2025 and 26 per cent fewer vehicle crossings than in 2024.
The Whatcom Council of Governments’ border crossing data comprises vehicle volume from the Peace Arch, Pacific Highway, Lynden, and Sumas ports of entry.
The slowdown of travel from B.C. to Washington State began in February 2025, with nearly one million fewer travellers making the crossing last year.
An overall 36 per cent fewer vehicle crossings were made between the Pacific Northwest neighbours in 2025.
The summer drop in travellers coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump imposing 50 per cent tariffs on “certain goods of Canada” in July, in response to alleged discrimination.
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On July 20, Trump signed three proclamations pursuant ot Section 338 of the Tariff Act, which will impose the 50 per cent tariff on a different set of Canadian imports, including hockey sticks and cement.
It will not apply to other goods like energy, potash, fish, and critical minerals.
In a separate decision, to secure fair treatment for American exports, the White House statement claims that the tariffs will hold Canada accountable for its “continued discrimination against and unreasonable and unequal treatment of U.S. commerce that has burdened and disadvantaged hardworking Americans.”
The White House statement also mentions the tariffs Canada imposes on cars imported to Canada from the U.S., adding that it does not do so on imports from other countries.
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In August, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced tariff countermeasures. Carney said that Canada would match new U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar, as well as introduce $7.5 billion in new and enhanced measures to support Canadian workers and businesses.
A statement from the Department of Finance Canada said that new terms proposed by the U.S. “were not in Canada’s best interest, basically, asking too much of Canada, and offering too little in return.”
With a trade war between the U.S. and Canada in full swing, B.C. workers might be some of the people who bear the consequences of it.
A recent analysis from Trevor Tombe, a professor of economics at the University of Calgary, estimated that 90,000 Canadian jobs could be lost because of these tariffs.
In an article for The Hub, he wrote that the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and B.C. could see the majority of this.
Are you avoiding travel to Washington State or the U.S. this year? Let us know in the comments or get in touch at vancouver@dailyhive.com.