Canadians Shun US Travel Amid Ongoing Border Fears, Tariffs, and 'Buy Canadian' Movement

Statistics Canada data shows fewer Canadians returning from the US, indicating a drop in travel to the country.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Canadians are visiting the US less frequently, with data from Statistics Canada showing a significant decline in the number of Canadians returning from the US compared to previous years. Experts cite factors like an immigration crackdown, President Trump's rhetoric, and the 'Buy Canadian' movement as contributing to this trend. The drop in Canadian tourists is having a noticeable impact on US businesses, particularly in border regions, that have come to rely on their Canadian customers.

Why it matters

The decline in Canadian travel to the US is a concerning trend for the US economy, as Canadians have historically been a major driver of international inbound travel spending. This drop in demand is expected to have a more pronounced effect on local economies in border regions that have become dependent on Canadian tourists and shoppers.

The details

Statistics Canada data shows that the number of Canadians returning from the US plunged during the pandemic and has not fully recovered, taking a massive slip in early 2025 and now down about 25% from a year ago. Meanwhile, Canadians are increasingly prioritizing domestic travel, with domestic trips in the second quarter of 2025 up 10.9% from a year prior. Experts cite factors like an immigration crackdown, President Trump's rhetoric on trade and turning Canada into the 51st state, as well as the 'Buy Canadian' movement, as contributing to Canadians' hesitance to visit the US.

  • Statistics Canada data is current through November 2025.
  • Domestic travel in Canada increased 10.9% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the prior year.
  • The number of Canadians returning from the US took a massive slip in early 2025 and is now down about 25% from a year ago.

The players

Julian Karaguesian

A visiting lecturer in the economics department at McGill University in Montreal and former special advisor in the International Trade and Finance Branch in the Department of Finance Canada.

Justin Trudeau

The former Prime Minister of Canada who encouraged residents to prioritize buying Canadian products and forgo American goods after the trade war between the US and Canada began.

Kyle Daley

The owner of supermarket Soloman's Store in New Hampshire who said Canadian customers have told him they are hesitant to cross the border due to political tension, tariffs, and border enforcement.

Becca Brown McKnight

A city councilor in Burlington, Vermont who said the effects of the drop in Canadian tourism would be felt more by local economies, and that businesses would close and people would lose their jobs.

Gretchen Whitmer

The Governor of Michigan who said the state and Canada's "economies are intertwined" in response to a question about why Canada should trust the state "in the midst of a chaotic tariff policy".

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We spoke with Canadian customers who told us point-blank that they were hesitant to cross due to the current political tension. The joy of the 'shopping day trip' has been replaced by anxiety over border enforcement and tariffs.”

— Kyle Daley, Owner of Soloman's Store (Business Insider)

“The longer-term ramifications are that our economy will suffer and that businesses will close and people will lose their jobs, which is just terrible. We are really lucky in Vermont to have a robust small business economy; a lot of these are mom and pop shops, and this is people's entire livelihood.”

— Becca Brown McKnight, City Councilor in Burlington, Vermont (Business Insider)

“We certainly still see people from Canada and from other countries, but it's not nearly to the degree that it was maybe like six months ago or a year ago.”

— Sandy Levine, Owner of restaurants in the Detroit area (WDET)

What’s next

Experts expect Canadian travel to the US to continue cooling due to factors like the 'Buy Canadian' movement, political instability, the trade war, and recent violence in the US. The effects are expected to be felt more acutely in local economies and border regions that have become dependent on Canadian tourists and shoppers.

The takeaway

The decline in Canadian travel to the US is a significant concern for the US economy, particularly in border regions that have come to rely on Canadian customers. This trend highlights the broader economic interdependence between the two countries and the potential consequences of political and trade tensions on local communities.