n In the northwest corner of Washington State lies a quirky United States (US) exclave so dependent on Canada’s goodwill that the strain of President Donald Trump’s tariff war is inescapable, in the sole grocery store, at any of the three eateries, and for the many residents who never voted for him.

Locals and visitors alike in Point Roberts, Washington, are increasingly worried about how this unusual waterfront border town that has embodied the two countries’ interdependency can survive the hostility brewing on both sides.

“This was really devastating,” said Tamra Hansen, a longtime Point Roberts resident and business owner whose eyes welled with tears as she described her two restaurants on the brink. “If we don’t get the support from the Canadians, this town will die.”

Known as a geographic oddity since the boundary with Canada was drawn in 1846, this detached five-square-mile community called an exclave because it’s completely separated from mainland America, is surrounded by water on three sides. Its only land connection is to Canada and it takes one border crossing and about 25 miles north by car to get to downtown Vancouver, BC, or two border crossings and about 25 miles through Canada to re-enter the United States along Boundary Bay.

The beaches, marina, golf course and hiking trails have long made Point Roberts a cherished getaway destination, but today locals say business has never been worse. Canadian visitors are staying away and some American residents say they’ve even been harassed over their nationality.

Point Roberts Fire Chief Christopher Carleton said Point Roberts is one the last remaining untouched natural gems of the United States, but the tight-knit community with no stop lights is now under threat by politicians who know nothing about their way of life.

“We need to take care of one another and have grace for one another and not allow people who don’t even know we exist to disrupt the relationships we currently have,” said Carleton, whose fire fighters mostly live across the border.

Tensions between the US And Canada have spiked to a level not seen before in modern times thanks to Trump’s on-again, off-again threat over the past two months to place taxes on a long list of goods going across the border. In response, Canada has promised

retaliatory tariffs.

For a country that has famously prided itself on being nice, polite and loyal allies, Canadians aren’t hiding their disgust for Trump’s polarising rhetoric, especially taking offense with the US president’s claim that Canada could be the “51st state.”

Mark Nykolaichuk said he refuses to go to the mainland US but describes Point Roberts as a unique exception because the border here has never felt like an actual divide for Canadians like him who grew up visiting.

Most of the property owners here are from Canada, and many of the 1,000 year-round residents have dual citizenship. Once a booming fishing town, the leading industry now, according to US Census data, is retail, primarily driven from tourism because of the number of vacation properties. The unincorporated Whatcom County community is now mostly home to retirees, though this year there are seven students  nicknamed “The Borderites” at the lone public school.

Nykolaichuk, who lives in the Vancouver, BC area, said he hopes he can help keep the Point Roberts International Marketplace open by shopping there, given that management reports business is down 20 per cent to 30 per cent. He depends on Point Roberts’ only grocery store to be able to cook at his vacation home because US customs doesn’t permit raw meat to enter its borders, for example, so he must buy it in town.

“Nobody wants to see this place shut down,” Nykolaichuk said. “If this place goes, where are the US citizens going to eat? Where are they going to get their food from?” Many in Point Roberts do not blame the Canadians for their disdain over Trump’s perceived sovereignty threat. Instead, there’s a deep sadness for

both sides.

“We have always gotten along and it’s just nonsensical because now the US Is going to suffer too,” said Hansen, who is a dual citizen.

“I definitely feel for the Canadian people at this time because they’ve got their backs against the wall, really, and they have to retaliate.”

Like many locals, Larry Musselwhite, owner of Larry’s Liquor Locker, is angry at Trump and blames the president for Point Roberts’ economic problems. The 75-year-old said he can’t even think about retiring right now because of the economy. His liquor store was down 40 per cent in sales last month.