Southbound B.C.

Southbound B.C.-Washington border crossings fall 49%

Published 7:39 pm Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Southbound trips from B.C. into Washington State took another sharp drop during the Labour Day weekend, new figures show, with half as many on this side of the Canada-U.S. border making the trip.

Numbers for the Peace Arch, Pacific Highway, Lynden and Sumas ports of entry show a 49 per cent decline in the number of southbound vehicles with B.C. plates visiting Washington State during Labour Day this year, compared to 2025, and that becomes a drop of 67 per cent when compared to Labour Day 2024.

There were 1,465 trips this year, compared to 2,900 in 2025 and 4,385 in 2024.

That’s based on a review of cross-border travel statistics for B.C. crossings, tabulated by B.C. and Washington State transportation agencies.

The latest drop followed the collapse of trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S., which provoked a spiralling trade war between the U.S. and Canada — with America imposing 50 per cent levies on about US $20 billion in Canadian exports and Canada retaliating.

Figures for the Aldergrove-Lynden border crossing show there were 197 trips into the U.S. on Labour Day this year, compared to 347 during Labour Day 2025, a drop of 43 per cent. Trips were down 72 per cent compared to 2024, when 719 made the crossing.

A recent survey of Washington State businesses near the B.C. border showed most rated the continuing drop in Canadian visits as “damaging.”

According to the 62 businesses that responded a call for comments by the Border Policy Research Institute and the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, 68 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that the drop in Canadian visits was hurting them, and 52 per cent were worried they may have to close.

“We really depend on our neighbors to the North for our survival!” one unnamed respondent said.

“The Canadian tourism decrease has been one of the most quantifiable and impactful issues for my business,” said another.

Dining establishments have taken the biggest hit, with 91 per cent rating the drop in Canadian visits as damaging, and 64 per cent concerned about their survival.

Among retail outlets, 85 per cent said the decline was damaging and 60 per cent were concerned about survival.