President Trump’s Michigan visit to take place at epicenter of economic hurt, trade war with Canada

Decline in Canadian shoppers to Port Huron businesses demonstrates urgent need for smart and consistent trade policies

LANSING, Mich. — When President Trump addresses voters in St. Clair County this weekend, many in his audience likely are feeling the economic squeeze caused the tariffs and the ongoing trade war with Canada.

Since escalating tariffs began on a broad range of Canadian goods last year, the share of Canadian shoppers spending at Port Huron area businesses has plummeted to 10%, hurting the local economy. Prior to the pandemic, Canadian shoppers made up 60% of the region’s business, a share that was beginning to recover until the trade war with Canada began.

"Retail in Port Huron is really, really struggling," Jorja Baldwin, president and CEO of the Bluewater Area Chamber, told Canadian newspaper The Independent. "The economic relationship (between Michigan and Ontario) has been decimated."

The Port Huron region and Ontario are deeply intertwined, and Port Huron depends upon Canadian visitors to boost its economy.

"Our relationship with Canada extends far beyond tourism. Canadian visitors have long been an important part of the Port Huron and St. Clair County economy, supporting our locally owned restaurants, retail shops, entertainment venues, and hospitality businesses," said Sarah LaForge, St. Clair County director of newly launched St. Clair County Chamber of Commerce, which is powered by the Southeast Michigan Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Michigan Smart Trade Alliance (MISTA). "Their spending helps sustain local jobs, strengthens our downtown, and contributes to the overall success of our business community."

"We are a welcoming place to eat, drink, and be merry. Here, we set aside our differences, and break bread together," said Sadaat Hossain, owner of the Raven Cafe in Port Huron. "We especially enjoy honoring those who travel to visit us, including our Canadian friends and neighbors."

President's Trump's visit will take place in the shadow of the Blue Water Bridge — the busiest trade corridor between Michigan and Ontario with about 2.1 million commercial truck trips in 2025, compared to roughly 1.9 million at Windsor, according to data from the Bridge and Tunnel Operators Association.

"As President Trump visits Michigan, the damage caused by erratic trade policies and the trade war with Canada has become increasingly clear," said Mark Fisk, a MISTA spokesman. "Michigan needs a return to the mutually beneficial longstanding trading partnership with Canada and an end to tariffs that are driving up costs for families and creating uncertainty for local business owners."

"It’s important Michiganders make it known that they value our long-standing trade relationship with Canada," said John Sellek, a MISTA spokesman. "While we understand the need for targeted tariffs against bad actors, Michiganders also know that our economy depends on friendly trade with Canada."

Since January 2025, Michigan families have paid $27.5 billion in tariff-driven costs. That’s more than $6,700 per household, the highest per-household burden of any state, driven by Michigan's auto-sector exposure and proximity to Canada.

MISTA’s Tariff Ticker tracks an estimate of how much Michigan families pay in tariff costs in real time.