Consider This from NPR
Trump's tariffs and rhetoric strain historic Windsor-Detroit friendship
Sun, 23 Feb 2025
President Donald Trump's tariffs and comments about turning Canada into the 51st state have tested U.S. relations with the country. One example is the deterioration of longstanding bonds between Detroit, Michigan and its neighbor across the river, Windsor, Ontario. NPR's Don Gonyea is a Detroit native and current resident of the city. He's had a front row view to changing attitudes between the two populations who have long enjoyed a very friendly, symbiotic relationship.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at [email protected] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: What impact are Trump's tariffs having on US-Canada relations?
As a Detroit native and current resident of the city, I've had a front-row seat to what Donald Trump's proposed tariffs are doing to U.S. relations with Canada, not to mention his recent comments about turning it into the 51st state.
In fact, there may be no better real-time example of the deterioration than the long-standing bond between my hometown and its neighbor across the river, Windsor, Ontario. As the auto parts capital of Canada, Windsor's economy and identity has for decades been linked to the Motor City. According to government data, Ontario has more than 100,000 automobile jobs, not counting the spinoff jobs.
And the two populations have enjoyed a very friendly, symbiotic relationship since way back before my time. But consider this. As Trump threatens to annex one of the U.S. 's closest allies and hit products crossing the border with 25% tariffs, the historic harmony between these two sister cities is already starting to fray as Windsor residents deal with Trump's policies and rhetoric.
From NPR, I'm Don Gagné.
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It's Consider This from NPR. Whether they're speaking out publicly or just holding on a little tighter to their wallets, the Detroit-Windsor friendship is running as cold as the Detroit River this month.
I wanted to pull at some of those unraveling threads, so I took NPR producer Lauren Hodges to Detroit's Riverside Park under the Ambassador Bridge, where we could look across the Detroit River to Canada not even a half mile away. This is the busiest commercial border crossing in North America. The Ambassador Bridge is right there to our right.
a still under construction second span called the Gordie Howe International Bridge, named after a Canadian native and Detroit hockey great, Gordie Howe. And that bridge, to me, named after Howe, symbolizes the many connections between the U.S. and Canada and this narrow span that separates them. I grew up on the Detroit side, watching Canadian television, listening to Canadian radio stations.
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Chapter 2: How have the Detroit-Windsor ties historically been intertwined?
We're taking you on a boozy adventure through the grittiest, most iconic dive bars the Motor City has to offer. You'll hop on the most epic party bus of your life, where the good times roll and the karaoke never stops. Between bars, you and your crew will be belting out your favorite tunes and living it up like rock stars. These tours are legendary and sell out faster than you can say cheers.
So, do you have your passport ready? That voice is Adriano Ciotelli, who runs Windsor Eats, an event planning business that highlights local food and activities around Windsor. But he says Detroit was always included.
Visiting sporting games, events, concerts, that's almost a rite of passage for a lot of Windsorites to kind of jump on the tunnel bus. head over and get dropped off on Detroit and just wander around and just enjoy a day or two or a weekend in Detroit.
And while it's been an extremely popular piece of his business, usually selling out even in the colder months, he's also aware that the tours really help out some of those smaller bars on the Detroit side.
There's another one in Hamtramck, which would reach out to us after every tour and essentially tell us, you know, you made us able to keep our lights on at the end of the month. They were so thankful every time that we would visit them.
But since Donald Trump's re-election and all the rhetoric that's been hurled at Canada, I think they have to become the 51st state. Windsor Eats made the tough decision to pause the beloved Detroit bar crawl.
And it's unfortunate that, you know, in the grand scheme of things, it's little businesses like this that are, and people that are going to be hurt.
Ciatelli calls what the U.S. administration is doing a very personal attack.
It's kind of like when your best friend goes and stabs you in the back.
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