Point Roberts, the American exclave that depends on Canada
This location’s only land connection to Washington State is through Canada, putting its residents in the crosshairs of Donald Trump’s tariff war and threats of annexation
In the western corner of Washington state there lies an American exclave that has particularly resented Donald Trump’s economic policies because its only land connection to the rest of the United States is through Canada. Point Roberts, whose border was drawn in 1846, is surrounded by water on three sides. The only option for leaving the territory by land and re-entering the U.S. is by driving 25 miles through Canada and crossing the border at Boundary Bay.
Thanks to its beaches, golf courses and hiking trails, Point Roberts has established itself as a major tourist destination for years. That is why Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs against Canada has disrupted the lives of locals, who now report being abandoned by Canadian tourists and complain of harassment based on their nationality.
Most of the property owners here are Canadian, and many of the 1,000 permanent residents have dual citizenship. Once a thriving fishing village, the main industry is now retail, driven primarily by tourism due to the number of vacation properties.
Now, residents are waiting anxiously in a limbo created by Trump’s fluctuating decisions on tariffs, besides his threats to make Canada another state of the Union. The new Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has said that the newly announced 25% tariffs on car imports are a “direct attack” on Canada and that the United States is “no longer a reliable partner,” even as he announced retaliatory action.
For some residents of Point Roberts, their future now depends on whether the support of Canadian neighbors keeps it afloat despite the U.S. president’s measures.
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