Canadian police cleared protesters and vehicles that had blocked a vital trade route on the border with the United States, making some arrests, but the bridge was not yet open to traffic on Sunday.

The officers moved in after a tense standoff between Canadian police and demonstrators since Friday when a court order and threats of arrest failed to end the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, which entered its sixth day on Sunday.

Arrests are being made and enforcement activities continue in the demonstrator area. Vehicles were towed. Windsor Police advised motorists to continue to avoid this area early Sunday. They did not specify how many people were taken into custody.

The police have increased their presence to more than 50 vehicles including buses and cruisers on Sunday as protestors dropped from around 100 to 45 on Saturday.

Windsor Police said that there would be no tolerance for illegal activity.

U.S. President Joe Biden has asked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to use federal powers to end the blockade https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/truckers-ambassador-bridge-perfect-spot-threaten-us-canada-trade-2022-02-11 of the bridge, North America’s busiest land border crossing. Truckers, vans and other protesters have been blocking both direction traffic since Monday. This has disrupted the supply chain of Detroit’s automobile makers.

Police moved in early on Saturday, pushing protesters back from the foot of the bridge, but more people streamed into the area in the afternoon and the operation appeared to have stalled.

Drew Dilkens of Windsor said that he was hopeful that police could… get to the people and explain that they are moving on. “We cannot afford for a country like ours to keep it shut down.”

The bridge carries about $360 million a day in two-way cargoes – 25% of the value of all U.S.-Canada goods trade.

The “Freedom Convoy” protests, started in the national capital Ottawa by Canadian truckers opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, entered its 17th day on Sunday. It has become a focal point for protests against wider COVID-19 curbs and carbon tax, as people join in on cars, pickup trucks, and farm vehicles.

There were about 4,000 protestors in Ottawa on Saturday as a result of protests that erupted in several cities across Canada. There were approximately 1,000 protestors in Toronto’s financial capital, but the police closed key roads leading to the city’s central business district.

The west saw hundreds blocking intersections on the Pacific Highway, chanting “No to America!” and leading to South Surrey, British Columbia, where they will be crossing into Canada. Many of them camped close to the border crossing. They vowed they would remain there until COVID-19 is lifted.

Protests over bilateral trade have spread to all three borders, with some violence in Alberta and Manitoba.

Canadian police claimed that protests in the United States were partially funded. On Thursday, Ontario frozen donations via GiveSendGo.

Ford Motor Co. is America’s second largest automaker. General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corp have also announced cuts in production. To offset losses, companies have diverted cargo.

Based on IHS Markit data, the estimated loss from blockades in the auto industry could reach $850 million. This is based upon the IHS Markit estimates that the daily vehicle and part flow for 2021 will be $141.1 million per day.

Mayor Dilkens explained that “this is the busiest crossing of the border, so it’s more than just automobile.” We are addressing issues that affect the whole nation. It is therefore so crucial to find a solution.