Finance
A testy trade war threatens to keep Canadian travelers from the US
A deepening trade war and political tensions between the U.S.
Key takeaways
- Canadian residents made 25% fewer return border crossings and spent about $2.4 billion less on travel to the U.S. in 2025 than in 2024.
- The abrupt pullback in stateside travel signaled a persistent shift away from the United States by Canadian residents in their travel preferences.
- Canadian visitation to California fell 20% in 2025.
- Florida experienced a 7% decline in Canadian visitors in 2025.
A deepening trade war and political tensions between the U.S. and Canada are threatening to reinforce an informal Canadian travel boycott of the United States. Following collapsed trade negotiations, President Donald Trump imposed import tariffs of up to 50% on Canadian products, to which Canada responded in kind. This political rift has severely impacted U.S. tourism, with Canadian border crossings dropping 25% and travel spending falling by $2.4 billion in 2025. Despite aggressive promotional campaigns and currency-matching discounts from U.S. tourism boards, many Canadian travelers state they will avoid visiting the U.S. entirely during Trump's presidency.
The ongoing bilateral rift threatens billions in U.S. tourism revenue from its largest international market.
In their words
“We’re here to make sure you know that we care about Canada”
“The latest round of tariffs reinforced my initial decision to not travel in the U.S. at all while he is in office.”
By the numbers
- -25%
- Decrease in Canadian return border crossings in 2025
- -$2.4B
- Drop in Canadian travel spending in the US during 2025
- 50%
- Maximum import tax rate imposed by Trump on Canadian products
- -7%
- Decline in Canadian visitors to Florida in 2025
- -20%
- Estimated drop in Canadian visitation to California
How it unfolded
- Canadian air travel to the US starts declining.
- Canadian border crossings plunge 25% amid Trump's return.
- Statistics Canada reports persistent shift away from US travel.
- Brand USA plans to bring Travel Week to Canada.
Why this matters
-
It is unlikely that there will be a sudden, huge uptick in Canadian travel over the upcoming winter months.
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Common questions
- What happened with US-Canada tourism?
- Canadian residents made 25% fewer return border crossings and spent about $2.4 billion less on travel to the U.S. in 2025 than in 2024.
- Where can I read the original report?
- Read the full report at AP.
