Sen. Murray’s Blaine event assesses tariffs’ damage to border businesses
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray visited Blaine on Thursday, April 24 to discuss the local economic effects she blames on “Trump’s chaotic trade war and senseless tariffs,” according to a news release from Murray’s office.
Murray had a roundtable meeting with Blaine Mayor Mary Lou Steward, the mayor of Surrey, Canada Brenda Locke, Blaine City Manager Mike Harmon, Dr. Laurie Trautman, director of the Border Policy Research Institute and Point Roberts Marketplace store owner Ali Hayton.
“As everyone here knows, the folks just across the border in Canada are not just our neighbors — they are our friends, and some families even span the border. It’s not just personal connections that are strong here, but economic connections. Trade with Canada, and visitors and customers are a crucial part of the local economy,” Murray said.
“Yet, every week Trump seems to find a new way to drive a wedge between us and our Canadian allies, and a new way to drive business away from our communities. He’s whipping up a fact-free frenzy about drugs at the Canadian border. The fact is: less than 1 percent of fentanyl intercepted at the U.S. border is from Canada.”
According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 43 pounds of fentanyl were seized coming into the United States’ northern border in 2024. So far in 2025, 11.72 pounds have been seized. In 2024, 21,889 pounds of fentanyl were seized across all United States borders with other countries.
As President Trump credits an “influx of illicit opioids and other drugs,” not just fentanyl, across the northern border as one reason to impose tariffs, data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows a decrease of seized illicit drugs in recent years, and so far in 2025. In 2024, about 11,000 pounds of drugs were seized coming into America’s northern border, while in 2023, about 55,000 pounds were seized. In 2022, over 60,000 pounds were seized. So far in 2025, only 4,881 pounds of drugs have been seized across the entire northern border.
“He has created complete chaos and fear for everyday travelers crossing our border,” Murray said. “People coming here for work, or just for visits, have been detained. His border theatrics are scaring away tourists and scaring off business. And the pointless, painful trade war is in reality an enormous tax paid by our families.”
The group also discussed the tariffs’ effects on Whatcom County small businesses.
The city of Blaine has reported a 40% decrease in retail and service revenue since January, and Bellingham reports a decrease of 20% “due to Trump’s trade war and increasing anti-American sentiment from Canadian neighbors,” the news release states.
“We really, really depend upon Canadians coming to shop in Blaine,” Blaine Mayor Steward said. “And part of this just is our history. ... We do have small businesses in town that we like to support, and over the years, the Canadians have come down and supported these immensely, in particular the gas, dairy, and shopping. ... People are being laid off, and this is hurting us because the Canadian southbound traffic has dropped off to 50 percent of a decrease in the amount of traffic, so this does affect our businesses.”
“Blaine and Bellingham receive nearly the same number of Canadian visitors. However, those going to Bellingham shop and spend four-to-one times as much money in Bellingham as they do coming to Blaine to buy gas and eat locally,” Steward said.
Dr. Trautman of the Border Policy Research Institute blames President Trump’s “antagonism” for the decrease in local revenue and tourism.
“Cross-border connections with our Canadian neighbors provide immeasurable benefits to our community — supporting our economy and our security. Travel by Canadians has dropped by over 50%, largely due to the antagonism of the Trump administration, leaving our businesses more vulnerable and our community less secure,” Trautman said.
“While it’s unclear exactly what relief might come for Point Roberts and other border towns, today’s meeting — bringing together community leaders from both sides of the border — is a hopeful step forward in rebuilding the longstanding relationships we’ve shared with our Canadian neighbors,” Hayton said during the meeting.
“Trump is pushing away some of our most important trade partners, raising prices for families at the grocery store, and pushing small businesses to the brink — some may even shutter,” Murray said. “All of this is incredibly harmful to our communities — it’s not the way we should treat our neighbors, and it’s catastrophic for business, too.”
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 12:45 PM.
