Economy, trade relationship taking biggest hit, one expert says
A six-day blockade at the Ambassador Bridge not only delayed billions worth of goods travelling between Canada and the United States — it also has businesses and experts worried about future of cross-border relations.
Traffic resumed across the Ambassador Bridge on Monday after the prolonged protest against vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 public health measures shuttered the international crossing between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit.
About 40 per cent of what crosses the bridge includes automotive parts and equipment, and machinery and electrical equipment, according to the University of Windsor's Cross Border Institute.
Jonathon Azzopardi, CEO and president of Tecumseh-based auto parts maker Laval International, told CBC news Monday that after the border closure, he's concerned about his company's future.
"There's really no competitive advantage to coming here. There's enough reason for them to keep [business in the United States] other than we're just good suppliers. I'm really afraid, because other than that, there's not much else. You put a border as an impediment or a risk," he said.
This was excerpted from the 15 February 2022 edition of CBC News.