Small-town mayors along the US-Canada border are working to preserve longstanding cross-border relationships despite growing trade tensions between the two nations.

In Osoyoos, British Columbia, Mayor Sue McKortoff emphasizes maintaining connections with American neighbors, noting that her city of 5,500 relies heavily on US tourism for its wineries and farmers markets [1]. This comes as larger municipalities like Vancouver have begun implementing boycotts against American businesses.

'We need to be open to any kind of option that will allow us to do business and to make sure that we understand what the concerns are on both sides,' McKortoff stated [2].

In Alaska, Haines Borough Mayor Tom Morphet recently reaffirmed friendship with neighboring Haines Junction, Yukon through an official letter. 'As northerners, we sometimes have as much in common with our Canadian neighbours as we do with our own countrymen in the southern latitudes,' Morphet wrote [3].

The economic interdependence is significant - Rossland, B.C. Mayor Andy Morel reports that 60-75% of his city's economy depends on American tourists [1]. 'We'd be shooting ourselves in the foot if we started to boycott and bad mouth our American tourists and friends,' he said.

While acknowledging concerns about proposed US tariffs, these border community leaders are choosing to focus on maintaining person-to-person relationships that have historically transcended national politics [2].