Canadians spent $3.3B less on travel to US after Trump returned to White House: Report
A recent report from Statistics Canada highlights a significant shift in cross-border activity between Canada and the United States. Canadian residents spent $3.3 billion less on travel to the U.S. throughout 2025. This decrease in spending reflects a total expenditure of $18.8 billion for the year.
The decline affected various categories of travel. Leisure travel saw the largest reduction, dropping by $2.2 billion. While Canadians spent less on trips to the U.S., they increased their spending on international leisure travel by $3.6 billion during the same period. Family-related travel also experienced a downturn, though the rate of decline was less steep than that of leisure trips.
Data indicates the trend intensified as the year moved forward. By July, border crossing volumes were nearly one-third lower than the figures recorded 12 months earlier. While numbers saw some stabilization in late 2025, they remained roughly one-quarter below 2024 levels. These stats represent the lowest volume of border crossings since digital recordkeeping began in 1972, excluding the pandemic era.
Experts point to the political and economic climate during the early stages of President Trump’s second term as a key factor. The administration implemented a 25 percent tariff on certain Canadian goods, citing border security and fentanyl concerns. Although a Supreme Court ruling eventually repealed most of these levies in February, the friction between the nations influenced consumer behavior and travel decisions.
Despite the clear downward trend in 2025, recent reports suggest travel numbers are beginning to rise again. Government officials in both countries are now pursuing initiatives and advertising campaigns intended to mend diplomatic relationships and encourage renewed cross-border tourism.