Rod Nickel, Julie Gordon

OTTAWA (Reuters] – Two U.S. border crossings were disrupted by protests from Canada. The trade snares hundreds of millions in daily transactions, ranging anywhere from livestock to parts of cars.

Protests calling for the end of federal COVID-19 vaccination mandates for truck drivers crossing borders began in Ottawa on Jan. 28, and have spread to Canada’s border crossings at Windsor (Ontario) and Coutts (Alberta). [L1N2UJ14P]

Canada exports 75% its goods to the United States. The Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit handles approximately 8,000 trucks per day. This represents 25% of cross-border trade or C$500million ($393.6 Million) per day.

Each day about C$100 Million worth of parts for automobiles crosses the border. Most shipments arrive in just the right time to meet manufacturers’ needs.

“Twenty-four to 48 hours is critical, and I remain confident that we’re going to resolve this within that critical timeframe,” said Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, who has been talking with both the province and federal government.

Canada’s Border Services Agency said that truckers closed the bridge late Monday night. However, Canadian police tweeted later that U.S. bound lanes were now open. On Tuesday afternoon, Canada’s border crossing was closed.

Trucks were diverted to The Blue Water Bridge (109 km (68 mi) north of the border between Sarnia Ontario and Port Huron Michigan. This bridge remained open, but with lengthy delays for commercial traffic entering Canada.

Cross-border traffic has been disrupted at Coutts in Alberta for over one week by protestors. Marco Mendicino, Public Safety Minister, stated Tuesday that he approved an Alberta request for more police.

In a statement, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association stated that intermittent closings had impeded the flow of U.S. Corn to Alberta. Alberta is Canada’s largest cattle-producing province.

Jay Bodner (executive vice president, Montana Stockgrowers Association) stated that Canada transports cattle south for slaughter through Montana. However, those shipments have been halted. He said that Canadian cattle shippers would prefer not to have trucks delayed at the border due to concerns over animal welfare.

The Coutts crossing sees C$44 million per day in two-way trade, said David MacLean, vice-president of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.

The U.S. steel exports are used to produce parts in Alberta’s oil and gas industries, including valves and pumps.

MacLean stated that there are many examples of Albertan manufacturers with equipment on the opposite side of the border and that it is diverting through North Dakota or Saskatchewan. He also said that the U.S. was Alberta’s largest export market.

We can’t make products on the road.

($1 = 1.2704 Canadian dollars)