Tomorrow February 18th online! BPRI Director Laurie Trautman will be moderating an important discussion digging into the North American relationship and addressing some big questions for US relations with our northern and southern neighbors...

Upcoming event! The Future of Borders with Laurie Trautman and @edwardalden.bsky.social Saturday, Feb. 7, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Whatcom Museum Rotunda Room, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham Follow the link for more details 👉https://wcls.libcal.com/event/15670761

I've never canceled a long-planned European vacation before. But this month, I did. So I've written about how belittling and threatening countries affects #tourism, both into the US and now heading out, in a @cascadiadaily.com guest commentary (free to read). www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/jan/26/...

📣 New publication alert! Our new Brief highlights changes to US border policy – both proposed and implemented – that may ‘thicken’ the border crossing experience by increasing processing times, and potentially wait times for both Canadians and for non-Canadians traveling from Canada to the US.

As we enter 2026, there are many reflections to be made about the last year's shift in CB travel in our region. Border crossings from Canadians into Whatcom County in 2025 decreased 36% from the previous year. As with all our infographics, you can find them here 👉https://bpri.wwu.edu/infographics

If you want to hear our perspective on what we saw in terms of Canadian travel habits to Whatcom County in 2025 and how this is likely the new normal for 2026, see the CTV News interview below.

Cascadia has long been considered a model of strong cross-border collaboration, however, it is not immune to policy shifts or emerging challenges that could disrupt its long-standing relationships.

Please join us as Laurie Trautman, Ginny Broadhurst, @sharonshewmake.bsky.social, @uscanada-sands.bsky.social and Derek Moscato discuss how increased tensions are impacting our cross-border region and the efforts to overcome them. When: Online, June 11 at 4pm PT foundation.wwu.edu/event/trust-...

We've been hearing about drops in Canadians crossing the border in the Cascade Gateway in 2025. The data tells us that we're seeing a significant drop in SB Canadian travelers so far. This has numerous implications for our local border communities. Take a look at BPRI's newest infographic below 👇

BPRI and the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce would like to track tariff impacts in our local community. This survey is directed at businesses in Whatcom County to assess perceptions of tariffs, trade irritants, and changes to cross-border travel. 👇 wwu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Upcoming World Issues Forum talk: The Island of Ireland after Brexit. Follow the link for more details 👇https://foundation.wwu.edu/event/island-ireland-after-brexit

@bpri.bsky.social director Dr. Laurie Trautman and CFR’s Edward Alden speaking about their new book at Village Books! @edwardalden.bsky.social

Every day, electricity crosses the #Canada-US #border. In 2023, Canada provided power equal to electricity consumption by 4.58 million homes. On Tuesday, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on energy imports from Canada, which will most likely translate to higher utility bills for these millions of home.

The third installment from our #BPRI #Trade infographic series focuses on #aerospace. In Seattle & Montreal aerospace leads to economic growth and innovation. Just like cars in the Detroit-Windsor region, planes and parts are traded between us and allow us to travel around the world.

Here is our next infographic trying to provide some context for how the #tariffs and counter-tariffs might impact Washington's economy (and you if you like our craft brews!)

Very proud to see BPRI’s expertise contribute to this @apnews.com story on the regional implications of #tariffs in our various #borderland communities. @wwu.edu

With what appears to be imminent #tariffs - and counter tariffs - there are some place-specific ways that we'll feel the squeeze. Here in the NW corner of Washington, raspberries are one of them. #BPRI will be releasing a series of these infographics to put some context to the numbers for #Cascadia

BPRI was happy to contribute to this upcoming edited volume, and it couldn't be more timely. BPRI specifically looked at #cross-#border regions along the CA-US border to contend that governance is at its strongest and most innovative at the #regional scale.

Great piece by #WWU #Journalism Professor Dr. Derek Moscato in the Salish Current.

Our region is a model for how two nations can work together to advance shared interests. It's at risk with recent wall- building measures at the border. Check out Dr. Trautman and @edwardalden.bsky.social alden.bsky.social's most recent Op-Ed in the @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social to learn more.

In this NBC article, Dr. Trautman argues that the US is losing much more than we gain from all the chaos of threatening our strongest trade partners with #tariffs. www.nbcnews.com/business/bus...

While the immediate threat of a #trade war is paused, there are numerous spillover effects that impact our social and #economic ties across the #border. bpri.wwu.edu

Really looking forward to this!

Recommended reading 👇

BPRI's Laurie Trautman weighed into the national conversation regarding Canada’s announcement today to invest over $1 billion on border security to address a wide range of issues.

After changes to its immigration policies earlier this fall, Canadian govt under pressure from internal actors and incoming Trump administration, unveil ambitious border measures, tackling issues from security to fentanyl, and further immigration reforms.

New Launch! Trade in the Borderlands examines the depth and breadth of Canada-US border region's economic relationships, check it out here: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5f9d... @andybissonnette.bsky.social @bittybeetz.bsky.social

Timely new book out today: "When the World Closed Its Doors: The Covid-19 Tragedy and the Future of Borders" by @edwardalden.bsky.social of @cfr.org and Laurie Trautman of @bpri.bsky.social from @oxunipress.bsky.social —> global.oup.com/academic/pro...

BPRI will be launching an interactive platform that examines the broader relationship between Canada and the United States together with regional analyses of trade relationships along the border. Stay tuned for more. Want to learn more about what Canada and the US trade? Check this out!

Director of BPRI Laurie Trautman was invited to share her expertise and experience working with organizations and initiatives in the #Cascadia region to advance #cross-border #cooperation. Thank you to the @oecd-ocde.bsky.social for hosting such an informative forum on cross-border governance.

Great Panel on bridges and regions at the Future #Borders Coalition summit in Washington D.C.

BPRI's very own Andréanne Bissonnette edited this upcoming collection.

Since its creation nearly 20 years ago, BPRI has been a leader in place-based research on the Canada – US border, working with numerous local, regional, and national initiatives on ways to minimize the friction of the border for our residents, businesses, and communities. Follow along for more!