Roberts Point, Washington - There may not be any towns in the United States like Roberts Point in Washington.

"I would say 90% of our business is driven by Canadians," said Tamara Hansen, who runs a saltwater cafe.

On this particular April day, the high point of lunch time is that the salt water is completely empty.

"This is not normal, no one is sitting in the restaurant," Hansen said.

Nothing is normal Today, Roberts is located at the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula, about 25 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. In one of the only American towns you have to pass through Canada, residents and business owners are in the middle of political and economic struggles, making them feel completely cut off.

“I don’t even remember when the shelves looked like this, not even during Coovid,” said Beth Calder on empty shelves in her shipping service, who opened more than two decades ago. She is the fifth generation resident of Point Roberts.

Calder said Canadian customers are "huge" to the business in Point Roberts.

"If it weren't for Canadians, Cape Roberts would be actually a Western ghost town," Calder said.

Many of the town’s approximately 1,200 residents are dual citizens. Roberts' crossing from Canada to point fell sharply, with local residents referring to President Trump's recent remarks as the main reason. This kind of remark includes the president's Statement About what he longs to see Canada becomes the 51st state in the United Statesand his government tariff On uncovered Canadian products US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement.

Calder said it was Mr. Trump’s “generally Canadian mention” that she believed Canadian tourists had dropped.

“And it turned out to be what people said, ‘Well, you know what, we haven’t been back in four years.’ It’s an eye-opener,” Calder said.

When her business fell 75% in March, Calder decided to close her door permanently. Despite a sharp decline in business in Hansen, she remains open to the Salt Cafe.

“How will we pass as a community?” Hansen asked.

Hanson believes that restoring trust can be difficult even if the president withdraws tariffs on Canada.

"I think it will take a while, you know? The trust has disappeared."