The White House is touting what it calls “successes” at the northern border, as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to impose steep tariffs on Canadian imports — a move that has rattled markets and strained bilateral relations.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday that apprehensions at the Canada-U.S. border have dropped sharply, particularly in the Swanton Sector — which includes parts of New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Only 54 individuals were apprehended last month, a 95% drop from March 2024 levels. The Swanton Sector had previously accounted for over 80% of northern border apprehensions during the last fiscal year.
“Thanks to President Trump, operational control of the border is becoming a reality,” said Leavitt. “The administration’s historic measures are yielding huge results.”
Despite the drop in apprehensions and increased Canadian efforts — including enhanced surveillance, a new Canada-U.S. joint strike force, and stronger fentanyl interdiction measures — there were no new signals from the White House on lifting or easing the controversial tariffs.
Trump cited migration and fentanyl trafficking as justifications for declaring a border emergency earlier this year, triggering economywide tariffs against Canada. Though some relief was granted to CUSMA-compliant imports, many goods remain subject to 25% tariffs, with a 10% levy applied to energy and potash.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed a recent phone call with President Trump, in which both sides agreed to begin negotiating a new economic and security agreement following Canada’s federal election.
Meanwhile, Trump’s broader trade war continues. Tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods have drawn sharp retaliation from Beijing, while U.S. allies remain uncertain about the duration and goals of the duties. Trump said Tuesday that “America is in a transition period”, noting that “we have something they want” and promising a rapid pace of new negotiations.
The White House says it has received 18 trade deal proposals from various countries and is aiming to finalize several agreements by July 2025.
As the dust settles, Canadian exporters and business leaders are closely monitoring developments, hoping for a resolution to the trade disruption that has put cross-border commerce — and market stability — in a precarious state.