Crossing to Detroit has long been an easy escape just across the river for many Windsor residents, sometimes even quicker to reach than parts of Essex County.
But with a 25 per cent tariff hanging over Canadian goods, levied by the county’s closest ally and neighbour, some Windsor residents, wary of where their dollars are going, are choosing to stay put.
“There’s a strong feeling that this has damaged the relationship, certainly in the short term,” Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor-Essex and Pelee Island, told the Star.
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“There’s no question that people are starting to pay a little bit more attention to where their products are made. They’re changing some of their travel plans, or not even looking at the U.S as a possible destination.”
In his first few weeks in office, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods, which could heavily impact manufacturing and agriculture in this part of Southwestern Ontario. Ontario Premier Doug Ford estimated nearly 500,000 provincial jobs were at stake.
Just a day before the tariffs were set to take effect, a last-minute deal was reached between the neighbouring countries, granting a 30-day reprieve,
In exchange, Canada committed to a $1.3-billion plan to tighten border security, staving off fentanyl trafficking and illegal crossings. Canada will also appoint a fentanyl czar to oversee the country’s efforts to crack down on the opioid.
“It’s a very unique situation we’re in because we’re a border community that really considers Detroit our northern neighbor, and very much our backyard,” said Orr.
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“There’s a long history and spirit of a two-nation destination, the bond that ties us together, whether it be by visitation, whether it be by people working there, or whether it be by visiting family and friends.”
For now, the 30-day tariff reprieve hasn’t swayed one local business from cancelling a popular tour that has carted busloads of Windsorites to Detroit dive bars for the past decade.
“We couldn’t, in good conscience, spend our money in another community when we knew that ours was going to be needing as much support as possible,” said WindsorEats owner Adriano Ciotoli.
The WindsorEats D-Tour ran nearly every week, drawing about 50 people per outing.
“Hopefully we’re able to find something to fill its place on the Windsor side,” he said.
“Hopefully we’re able to shift those dollars that were spent in Detroit and bring it back here into the Windsor-Essex area.”
Speaking to reporters at city hall Monday, hours before the 30-day pause was announced, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the city would continue flying American flags along the riverfront.
“Our community’s beef is not with the people of the United States,” said Dilkens.
“It’s with the president of the United States and a unilateral decision that will have and could have grave consequences on our country, but also our community. So, that is really where our frustration lies.
“I’m not going to take my frustration, my disappointment in that decision out on all of the American people. We’re too close to these folks. We have friends and family (there), we go to school there, we eat there, we shop there, we dine there. We have strong relationships that have existed for over 100 years. This is not going to be tanked because of one person.
Dilkens said there are “still a lot of smart Americans” who understand the “dramatic, negative” effect the tariffs would have.
On Monday, Dilkens also exercised his first-ever mayoral veto, confirming his decision to terminate the tunnel bus connecting Windsor and Detroit, citing the impact of Trump’s tariffs.
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Instead of shelling out for American goods, some Windsor residents have taken to social media to share Canadian alternatives.
“It is giving people pause to consider options — and there are options,” said Orr.
“If there’s one thing that we learned during COVID when the border closed, there was a real movement afoot to support local.”
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Orr added that he doesn’t foresee tariffs deterring American travel to Windsor, with the exchange rate still making it an attractive destination.
Windsor-Essex welcomes 5.6 million visitors annually — 1.7 million from the U.S. American travelers make up 33 per cent of the region’s total tourism.
— With files from Taylor Campbell
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