By Jackson Burden Community News Service
Editor’s note: This story is via Community News Service in partnership with Vermont State University Castleton.
At Vermont State University, Castleton, a vibrant community of Canadian students has long thrived, embracing the American dream while pursuing their college years in the U.S. in a welcoming academic haven.
However, following the 2025 presidential election, President Donald Trump’s aggressive 25% tariffs on Canadian goods have unleashed economic turmoil, casting a shadow over their aspirations.
The Canadian students say they are frustrated by how tariffs affect their daily lives, particularly due to the rising exchange rate, which makes U.S. goods and services more expensive, straining their budgets.
“They’re definitely affecting us personally. When Trump took office, the Canadian dollar was $1.3 to the U.S. dollar and went up to $1.4,” said Jackson Edwards, a Canadian student-athlete at VTSU Castleton.
The volatility of the Canadian dollar, driven by the tariffs, has plunged students — and their parents — into financial uncertainty. And it’s having an impact on how they view America.
“My mom is anti-American right now, refusing to buy American goods to support Canada. We’re very much like, you know, standing with our flag and our country,” Edwards added, reflecting a broader sentiment of national pride amid the trade war.
Beyond exchange rates, Canadian students face another frightening complication: tightened U.S. border policies.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has intensified scrutiny at the northern border, citing concerns about drug trafficking and illegal crossings. Trump has declared a national border crisis, though less than 1% of U.S. fentanyl seizures occur at the Canadian border.
This has led to stricter protocols, mirroring those at the U.S.-Mexico border, despite Canada’s significantly lower drug trafficking volume.
“I’m not going home for spring break because I’m scared I might not get back in,” said Codi Bacon, a student-athlete at VTSU Castleton from Alberta.
Bacon said the whole situation is frustrating.
“I don’t think it needs to be done to the same extent as Mexico,” Bacon added, echoing sentiments that Canadians are being unfairly targeted by the U.S. by treating them like Mexico, where the drug issue is much greater.
These border restrictions, coupled with economic pressures, have disrupted Canadian students’ lives. For years, they crossed the border freely, unburdened by exchange rate concerns or visa issues. Now, the weakened Canadian dollar and fear of border delays force them to cut back on spending and seek internships or campus jobs to offset costs.
“At first, I didn’t understand what the tariffs meant. Looking into it, with the exchange rate right now, it’s just gotten a lot more expensive as a Canadian living in the States. It’s disappointing,” said VTSU Castleton hockey player Josh Ward.
The U.S. and Canada, founding NATO members since 1949, have long been close partners, but the tariffs have threatened this bond.
To counter the tariffs, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau imposed 25% retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion of U.S. goods. They primarily target products such as peanut butter, wine, beer, motorcycles, and cosmetics. Provinces such as British Columbia and Nova Scotia also removed American liquor from their stores.
Trudeau then stepped down, endorsing Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, who defeated conservative opponent Pierre Poilievre in national elections earlier this week.
“I’ve never been a huge fan of Trudeau — he hasn’t done much for Canada — but I was pleased with his response to Trump’s initial tariffs,” Bacon said.
Despite the challenges they face, some Canadian students remain optimistic.
“I love my life, my lifestyle, this college, and Vermont,” Edwards said.
That said, he shared that the trade war’s impact is undeniable, forcing Canadian students to navigate a precarious economic and logistical landscape, testing their resilience as they pursue their dreams in the U.S.
