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U.S. Retail Check: Canada’s Retail Boom Leaves U.S. Border Towns in Crisis PLAY YOUTUBE VIDEO Original article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68y0IDT6QcQ
Canada’s Retail Boom Leaves U.S. Border Towns in Crisis U.S. Retail Check 9K subscribers ... 77,046 views ... 5.5K likes Jun 29, 2025 HOA KỲ Canada’s Retail Boom Leaves U.S. Border Towns in Crisis In a stunning turn of events, the United States is losing its grip on the global food market—and it’s happening faster than anyone predicted. Major global buyers are rejecting U.S. wheat, corn, and beef, and Canada is quietly stepping in to claim the space. This isn’t just a trade disruption—it’s the unraveling of decades of American dominance in agriculture. Why are countries like Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and Italy walking away from U.S. agricultural exports? How has Canada positioned itself as a trusted, stable, and traceable supplier in less than a year? And what does this collapse mean for millions of American farmers caught in the middle of global realignment? This video dives deep into: Why U.S. wheat exports are being rejected in 2025 How Canadian agriculture has replaced the U.S. in key markets What global buyers are demanding—and why the U.S. can’t deliver The political and economic ripple effects hitting rural America As Canada’s food exports surge, American farmers are burning crops, losing contracts, and facing an uncertain future. And with trust and reliability now the gold standard in global trade, this isn’t just a loss in sales—it’s a loss of reputation. We break down the trade data, expose the shifting loyalty of major importers, and explore how this collapse is reshaping the balance of food power between the U.S. and Canada. With global food security at stake, this is more than just an agriculture story—it’s a defining moment in North American economic history. Don’t miss this urgent exposé that connects global trust, national policy, and the everyday crisis unfolding for America’s farmers. 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Viewers are strongly encouraged to verify information independently and consult trusted sources before forming conclusions or making decisions. 📌 This content is not intended to defame, discredit, or cause harm to any individual, group, organization, or nation. Instead, it aims to explore multiple perspectives, raise awareness, and foster respectful dialogue and critical reflection. Please approach all content with an open mind and critical thinking. Thank you for watching and for being a thoughtful part of the URC community. How this content was made Altered or synthetic content Sound or visuals were significantly edited or digitally generated. Learn more U.S. Retail Check Peter Burgess COMMENTARY Peter Burgess Transcript 0:02 so that relationship has been damaged That's something that's going to take a while to come back It's not going to happen this year Will you be traveling to the States anytime soon not ever I wouldn't go over the border again Have you ever thought a town could go into hibernation just because its neighbors no longer cross over to buy gas pick up Amazon packages or have a cheap dinner it sounds absurd but that's exactly what's happening from Blaine Washington to Derby line Vermont Places that once buzzed like familiar rest stops for Canadians are now on artificial oxygen just to stay alive What happened simply put Canadians have stopped crossing the border as shopping centers on the US side emptied of Ontarians America has come to realize dependence on neighborly ties isn't forever Today let's explore five American border towns on the brink While Canada's retail sector is booming please note that this information is compiled from statistical data and is not intended to disparrage any organization 1:03 Number one Blaine Washington Can you believe it blaine no longer lives off Canada and perhaps it never will again It sounds absurd but the very closeness that once gave this town its strength has now become a fatal weakness Blaine a small town tucked in at the northernmost tip of Washington state used to thrive on weekend car trips from Vancouver Now the lights are still on the store is still open but the crowds are gone For years Blaine was a familiar stop for thousands of British Columbombians Every weekend lines of cars crossed the border to fill up on gas pick up Amazon packages buy medicine grab a meal and head back the same day Stores stayed open through the afternoon The town needed no factory no university just that steady consumer flow to keep going And indeed it worked According to estimates from the Northern Light during 2:02 peak months before 2025 Canadians contributed up to 60% of Blaine's total retail revenue An extraordinary figure but also a double-edged sword When a place's economy is tethered to the habits of its neighbor even minor changes on the other side can set off a chain reaction no one is prepared for Then that change came faster than anyone expected In June 2025 US Customs and Border Protection data cited by the Seattle Times showed vehicle crossings through Blaine had dropped by more than 75% compared to the same period last year Three of the five major gas stations shut down Over 20 Amazon pickup and logistics points ceased operations The local barber shop opens only 3 days a week Restaurants scrapped lunch service due to low traffic A once bustling town now sits quietly like the final stop of a journey no one chooses 3:04 anymore The question isn't what is happening but rather why did it happen and why so fast since early 2025 US Canada trade policies have grown more strained certain US political proposals regarding tariffs import incentives and even comments about annexing Canada as a future state though unofficial were enough to make many Canadians feel alienated and confused And that stirred up a seemingly simple question Why should we go over there when everything we need is already here as that question spread concrete actions followed British Columbia quickly invested in its domestic logistics system New centers like Siri Central Pickup Hub and Langley Fulfillment Zone were built at astonishing speed allowing Canadians to receive goods faster cheaper and more conveniently without crossing the border The provincial government also rolled out support packages for local 4:06 businesses making Canadian goods not only competitive but cheaper by saving on taxes and shipping costs Bit by bit the reasons that once drew Canadians across the border began to disappear And then a string of unwelcome incidents occurred In May 2025 a Canadian family of six was detained for over 3 weeks at the Blaine border crossing due to unresolved administrative issues causing media uproar Though not the first case of its kind the timing and sentiment made the incident a tipping point for the idea if we don't go we don't get into trouble Around the same time a small stone wall was erected along the border near Blaine as reported by the Northern Light as part of a security program Though technically insignificant the image led many Canadians to feel that perhaps the warmth of the past had grown distant And so Blaine lost the 5:03 lifeblood that sustained it Not because it did anything wrong Not because its residents are to blame They were simply the first to bear the brunt of shifts far beyond their control What comm county where Blaine is located has already warned of potential budget cuts for public health services and welfare programs An emergency hearing was held with Senator Patty Murray present but proposed solutions remain on paper The idea of turning Blaine into a duty-free zone to retain instate consumers sounds reasonable but lacks traction Young people in town no longer pin their hopes on Canadians coming back For them the bigger question is can Blaine survive if it's no longer anyone's stop and that's what unsettles people most Because Blaine has no industry to fall back on no university no financial services no innovation hub Blaine lived off a habit that's now outdated a local economy based on transitory traffic Now with 6:00 that flow gone it's as if the town has lost its support beam Canadians aren't exactly thrilled either They're satisfied with the efficient domestic system but occasionally admit to missing something a familiar trip a diner just across the road a spontaneous chat with a neighbor from another country But even that feeling isn't strong enough to draw them back The peace arch symbol of friendship between the two nations still stands The sky is still blue the grass still green but the warm handshakes and caravans of cars are gone Not because the border is closed but because people no longer need to cross it And if this can happen in Blaine a town once called the heartbeat between two nations what will become of smaller quieter towns number two Calala Maine Something strange is happening in Calala Maine No one has shut this town down Yet hardly anyone walks through it anymore The same old streets remain The checkout counters 7:02 are still open The supermarket lights still on But the absence is undeniable Not loud like the bang of a closing gate but a quiet steady void like a cold meal no one wants to serve Day after day Calala isn't like Blaine There are no silent Amazon warehouses or dustcovered gas stations The dwindling here comes from small things fewer orders emptier buses This town once served as the communal kitchen of the border area Residents of St Steven New Brunswick only had to cross the bridge over the St Qua River to reach Cala for groceries gas medicine and household items A short trip but one that fostered the closeness of neighbors sharing a home But by early 2025 that flow of people suddenly thinned out There was no announcement no sudden disruption just trips that no longer repeated themselves 8:01 According to data from Spectrum News and Banger Daily News order volumes at stores like C& Feeds dropped by as much as 61% within the first 2 months of the year US Customs and Border Protection also recorded over 3000 fewer border crossings in February 2025 compared to the same month the previous year Not a large number on a national scale But for Calala a town that relied on those weekend grocery runs it's a gap that isn't easy to fill from across the bridge The reason for the change isn't hard to grasp St Steven a small town in New Brunswick has gradually transformed in recent years What was once home to just a few scattered shops is now one of the most modern retail hubs along the northeastern border A new Atlantic superstore opened earlier this year The local mall expanded The online delivery systems of Canada Post and major chains like Soies Giant Tiger and Walmart 9:04 Canada have grown rapidly bringing goods straight to doorsteps within 48 hours With the CAD USD exchange rate dropping below 0.70 in June the lowest in 5 years Canadians realized they were losing more than they gained by shopping in the US Prices were no longer cheaper currency exchange fees import taxes and the need to declare good upon return all of it made the once familiar trip a hassle Meanwhile in Calala nothing changed And that precisely is the problem The shops are still open the signs are still lit but without Canadian customers the air feels heavier Not because of chaos but because daybyday life quietly drains from the town The most notable thing is the people of Calala did nothing wrong They didn't change their service They didn't raise prices They didn't close unexpectedly 10:02 They simply couldn't keep others when the world across the river had become too complete In Calala some stores still 10:09 hang signs reading familyowned since 1955 but no one in the family wants to carry it on For older residents this quietness feels like a long winter with no sign of when the snow will melt But for the younger generation the question is different They're choosing other paths not out of resentment but because they no longer want to rely on the uncertainty of a relationship across the river They can't keep waiting Many young people have left Calala heading to larger cities like Bangor Portland or even further south to Massachusetts Places where jobs aren't tied to a border Remote work the creative economy technology healthcare industries that don't require customers from Canada have become far more attractive than a half-life in a town once sustained by someone else's footsteps On the other side St Steven is entering a vibrant 11:03 phase Internal data from the Atlantic Division of the Retail Council of Canada shows retail sales in St Steven rose over 12% in Q2 of 2025 compared to the same period last year The largest increase in the past 8 years Local retailers are hiring more staff Extending hours Many shops that were once secondary outlets are now main locations Calala looks across and suddenly sees itself left behind Not because someone turned away but because the economic current has shifted and the place that used to be a destination has become yesterday's stop This change came with no bang It simmers like a small flame in an old kitchen just bright enough that no one puts it out but not warm enough to make anyone stay from St Steven Some still look toward Calala with a touch of longing But the feeling of crossing the border isn't the same anymore Some Canadians describe a strange distant sensation not quite sure if they're 12:05 still welcome like before There's no physical barrier but an invisible line is thickening the psychological border Not everyone says it aloud but everyone feels it And that feeling makes the bridge seem farther than 100 km If Blaine is where the sound of things falling apart can be heard day by day then Calala is where silence begins to take shape And just a few hours drive west lies Darby Line a town where the border is only a faint line across the library floor But like Cala it too is slowly becoming a hyphen no one writes past anymore Number three Derby line Vermont and Derby line The border once existed only as a chalk line resting quietly across the wooden floor of the Haskell Library Children played soccer across it Adults read books at the same table one half of their body in the US the other in Canada without needing a 13:04 single piece of identification The place was once called the softest border in the world No fences no guards no sense of strangeness But by 2025 everything began to change And what shocked the people of Darby Line wasn't a loud incident but the quiet withdrawal from across the street This spring the US government tightened border policies requiring Canadians even those just visiting the library to report through the side entrance and go through customs A small bureaucratic step but a turning point for the whole town The Haskell-free library once a symbol of borderlessness now has only one official entrance with a fence and a passport scanner From the Canadian side the reaction wasn't fierce There were no protests but people found another way In the town of Stanstead across the border local stores were upgraded Retail chains 14:00 like Pharmapree Metro and Dollararama expanded The community arts center was renovated using provincial funds from Quebec The local delivery system developed rapidly There was no longer any reason to cross into the US for shopping or to see a musical Meanwhile in Darby Line the already modest retail activity grew even more sparse A grocery store shut down in April The secondhand bookshop near the library now opens only 2 days a week The souvenir store once sustained by Canadian tourists stopped taking orders after Easter Retail revenue dropped over 35% compared to the same period in 2024 according to internal data from the Northeast Kingdom Business Council for a town of just over 600 people That's no longer just a statistic It's a warning Derby Line has no factories no universities no logistics All the town has is passage It depends on someone walking in from the 15:00 other side buying a book having a coffee sitting down to see a play then leaving When that flow stopped the town didn't collapse it withered In Stanstead residents aren't celebrating the distance but they no longer feel they need derby line With a weak Canadian dollar exchange fees customs checks and wait times everything has become inconvenient Step by step Canadians have learned self-sufficiency They built their own stage developed local retail ordered books from Quebec publishers instead of visiting the Haskell Library What used to be a convenient backyard has now become a beautiful but distant memory Darby Line remains unchanged Older residents still visit the library Still stand by the door waiting for someone from the other side to drop by but they no longer come One person described the feeling as losing a part of your soul Not because anyone did 16:00 something wrong but because the other side has grown up inside the library The chalk line between the two countries fades more each day but the gap between the two communities grows ever clearer The physical border has been tightened but it's the psychological border that makes Derby line feel most isolated In Canada the community raised nearly 3000 Canadian dollars to build a new entrance to the library from their side over 50,000 of which came from author Louise Penny a small contribution but one rich in meaning If they can't share the same space they'll create their own and still live well And here is where the two sides mindsets begin to fully diverge For Canadians the separation is no longer a loss but an opportunity to stand on their own Many breathed a sigh of relief upon realizing cutting ties with Derby Line wasn't as hard as they thought They can still access knowledge culture commerce without crossing a 17:02 border a quiet independence but one they're proud of They didn't make noise but they made it work and that made them feel stronger than ever Meanwhile in Derby Line the feeling is the opposite Residents suddenly realized they had depended too much on footsteps from the other side Everything from the bookstore's revenue to the sense of community was tied to the presence of their neighbors And when that presence disappeared they didn't know what to do but wait Some young people in town proposed a reinvention turning the place into a cultural tourism site emphasizing its unique no barrier history But they too understand that without visitors history becomes just a display The story of Darby Line isn't as loud as Blaine's or as aching as Calla's It's quieter sadder and more profound Because when a connection is lost not due to conflict or dispute but because the other side no 18:03 longer needs you that's a loss no measure can capture And so people begin to wonder if one day the library reopens the fence comes down and the policies are relaxed Would Canadians even want to return or has Darby Line become a town of memory a place where there once existed a border with no checks no fences no distance but now remains only in history books Number four Pambina North Dakota Some towns are left behind by floods some are drained by politics But in Pambina North Dakota the cause is surprisingly simple Canadians stopped coming Located right on the border Pambina was once a quiet but essential stop in the North American logistics chain not a tourist destination not a bustling commercial hub The town functioned like a small power station keeping the flow of goods between Winnipeg and the US uninterrupted Trucks parcels express deliveries they 19:04 all passed through here All paused for a few minutes And it was those few minutes that sustained an entire community But since early 2025 the traffic no longer comes as steadily as before There was no ban no new fence It's just that the other side Canada chose to take control of its own logistics chain Emerson a small town in Manitoba that once played a supporting role has now become the central hub A series of new distribution centers have sprung up Canada Post Purilator and FedEx Canada are operating at full capacity Winnipeg once relying on the US for logistics has become completely independent People just place an order and wait 24 48 hours for delivery No border crossing no immigration paperwork no currency conversion fees and then something very simple happened They stopped coming in Pambina The impact was swift and clear Mike's parcel center once handling 20:04 hundreds of packages daily is now barely operating FedEx and UPS routes that used to make regular stops have gradually pulled out The roadside cafe no longer sees truck drivers stopping by Auto repair shops electronics accessory stores battery swap stations all once sustained by hurried visitors now open their doors without knowing if anyone will come In the middle of town stands a building that used to be a major logistics center The sign is still there the barcode scanner still lit The delivery schedule still neatly posted but the dust grows thicker That building seems to be silently waiting for someone to flip the switch but the switch is now across the border where no one is looking back The impact isn't limited to logistics The entire small ecosystem around it is also shaken The grocery store serving drivers has lost nearly half its revenue The air conditioner 21:00 repair shop no longer gets service requests from freight trucks Stores selling power converters travel chargers and small items once meant for Canadian customers now count their visitors on one hand According to estimates by the Pambina County Economic Council revenue from border services has dropped over 30% compared to the same time last year Most of the local budget once dependent on crossber trade is now running a deficit forcing delays or cuts in spending on infrastructure libraries and community services No alarm sounded in advance But little by little Pambina is losing the things that once kept it alive across the border Canada didn't say goodbye They just moved on and no longer needed to return Manitoba media call this the post-border autonomy era when relying on external systems is no longer necessary What was once dependency has now become a choice And when that choice no longer includes Pambina The town gradually fades from the mental map of its northern neighbors Seen from 22:06 above The reversal is clear Emerson once just a small stop has now become the region's key hub Orders from Montreal to Winnipeg now stop here then spread out across the borderlands No need to go far no need to touch US soil Meanwhile Pambina despite having the facilities infrastructure even the strategic location just sits there like a train station where the trains no longer run Amid these changes Pambina residents are beginning to realize something they had never considered Their town was never a destination It existed only as a waypoint sustained by being plugged into someone else's system And when the other side learned to operate independently the town lost its very purpose Can the town pivot find a new role or will it fade into silence like a power outlet no one plugs into anymore the answer may lie in the next place we're headed A smaller town once a mirror image of its 23:04 crossber neighbor The two sides shared a street a park a sports field But then as Canada kept growing the US side faded first from original to copy then from copy to shadow Number five Soul St Marie Perhaps this is the story that makes you reflect the most Because if the previous towns were simply located next to Canada like neighbors sharing a fence this town is something else a different version a true twin One bears the American surname the other the Canadian but they share the same name so Staint Marie The two cities share the St Mary's River Both look out over Lake Superior Both speak English Both hold winter festivals and summer fairs In previous years no one even needed to ask which side are you from because whether it was the Michigan or Ontario shore people came and went as 24:02 if the only difference was the color of the license plate The international bridge over the river was like a soft thread binding the two not by law but by habit and affection The toll station lights were on 24/7's cars lined up from early morning Reunions shopping dining All began with a gentle honk on the bridge But now those lights are still on The digital signs still scroll only there's barely anyone reading them A former border control officer shared that the morning shifts are now understaffed The cameras still turn the signs still update but the common feeling is like guarding a road no one chooses to take anymore On the map the international bridge still links the two cities but in reality it no longer connects anything People have started calling it a one-way road not because of traffic laws but because the gaze from the other side no longer turns back Data from March 2025 shows 25:02 that round trips from Ontario to Michigan have dropped nearly 48% compared to the same period last year Meanwhile the entire state of Michigan has seen a 32% decline in this small city of just over 1400 residents The impact is even more pronounced A local economy that once depended on Canadian visitors for over 70% of its activity now feels like a sailboat caught in dead wind For Saul Staint Marie MI This isn't just lost revenue It's the loss of a familiar rhythm of daily life Cafes that used to open at 6:00 a.m now start at 9:00 because no one comes early anymore A souvenir shop closes midweek A Riverside hotel keeps its sign lit seemingly just to declare 'We're still here.' Family-owned restaurants that once bustled on weekends now host only a few familiar loces There used to be picture perfect stories across the bridge student exchange programs joint festivals river 26:04 lantern competitions But slowly everything began to recede not due to conflict but simply because one side no longer needed it Across the river Salt St Marie Ontario is transforming rapidly In just the past 2 years the city has received over six 5 million CAD and provincial funding to upgrade its tourism sector recreation centers a casino lakeside museums domestic cruise lines local vacation tours under the Station Ontario program Residents of Ontario who once flocked to Michigan for low prices and new experiences now realize everything they need can be built at home And when that happens there's no need to say goodbye They just stay An internal report from Destination Northern Ontario shows that retail and tourism revenue here grew over 11% in Q2 2025 the highest regional growth rate 27:01 since the pandemic From cafes to hotels malls toarmacies everything runs smoothly without relying on American visitors Canadians didn't have to announce a separation but by staying by spending domestically they've created an irreversible reality They are no longer dependent They don't need to cross over to feel fulfilled anymore The international bridge a symbol of connection still stands but it's no longer a necessary passage in daily life On the Michigan side the silence is becoming more tangible Not the collapse of Blaine not the emptiness of Pambina but a quiet letdown Steady and subtle like a light dimming so slowly that no one notices until the darkness has already filled the room and the switch hasn't been flipped back on At Lake Superior State University some international events that once drew large Canadian audiences are seeing thinner attendance Hotel bookings ahead 28:03 of the summer festival are down over 60% yearover-year A report from the Michigan Economic Center notes a slight uptick in unemployment in the service sector especially retail and dining concentrated in border regions In community meetings residents have begun to ask a new if we're no longer a place for others to shop vacation or pass through then what is Souls Saint Marie Mi some local groups have started looking for new directions restoring heritage tourism promoting cross forest hiking routes developing educational and clean agriculture potential A bookstore owner has shifted from selling souvenirs to hosting community talks and sharing local knowledge as a way to rewrite the story from within Meanwhile across the bridge Ontario's tourism campaigns are in full swing Beauty at your doorstep No passport needed to see the world Soul St Marie the bright side of the river on Instagram and Facebook 29:05 A flood of images from the other side crowded morning cafes glowing harbors sold out fall tours Some Michigan residents say it now feels like looking into a mirror with the light shining only one way The mirror is still there but the reflection is fading not because they have changed but because the other side no longer looks back This feeling doesn't come from wounded pride but from a simple truth When a familiar part of yourself no longer shows up each day you're forced to ask 'Who am I when I can no longer see myself in someone else's eyes?' And then that question leads to something deeper Perhaps the debate over who is the original who is the copy who depended on whom who once shone brighter no longer matters What matters is if there's no one left to reflect you Can you shine on your own a sad story perhaps but also perhaps the beginning of a rebirth 30:04 Because sometimes it's not about being a mirror for someone else It's about being a place where you can stand tall look ahead and know that you deserve to be seen even if no one calls your name anymore Sometimes being too close isn't necessarily a good thing especially when familiarity turns into dependence without us even realizing it among the border towns that once connected two worlds Americans are only now beginning to wake up They once believed that this relationship was mutually beneficial a sustainable partnership But everything changed when one side chose to let go Blaine gasps like a body short on oxygen Cala grows cold like a kitchen no one visits anymore Darbyine loses the warmth of friends who once shared the same roof Pambina becomes a power station gone dark and Soul St Marie left staring into a mirror that reflects a fading self While its sibling across the way grows ever brighter this isn't just a story about retail tourism or logistics It's a 31:06 wake-up call against complacency If you found this video helpful don't forget to like subscribe and turn on notifications so you won't miss the next one The analyses in this video are based on current data and an independent perspective not intended to make absolute predictions or cause confusion

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