Canada Block Access To Alaska And Trump Lost It

The tension between the United States and Canada has reached a boiling point, with British Columbia Premier David Eby taking aggressive action against the U.S. in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods.


The latest move? Proposing tolls on commercial trucks traveling from the continental U.S. to Alaska through British Columbia. This bold strategy targets Alaska’s reliance on Canadian infrastructure, turning geography into a weapon in an escalating trade war.

Alaska, though legally part of the United States, is physically isolated from the lower 48. There are no direct roads, railways, or pipelines connecting it to the mainland without crossing Canadian territory. Every shipment of groceries, fuel, or construction materials must pass through British Columbia and the Yukon, making Alaska uniquely vulnerable to Canadian policy shifts. Premier Eby’s proposal to impose tolls on these shipments is not just a retaliatory measure—it’s a calculated strike at a critical pressure point. The tolls would raise shipping costs by thousands of dollars per load, costs that would inevitably be passed on to Alaskan consumers, already burdened with some of the highest living expenses in North America. Before we continue, make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel with the bell notification turned on for more videos.

The Alaska Highway, a 1,387-mile lifeline built during World War II, is at the center of the dispute. A 1977 treaty between the U.S. and Canada explicitly prohibits tolls on this route, but Eby is testing the limits of that agreement. Trump has responded with fury, calling the move illegal and vowing retaliation. Behind the scenes, White House advisors are preparing legal countermeasures, including freezing infrastructure funds and reviewing cross-border treaties. The situation has devolved into a high-stakes game of chicken, with neither side willing to back down.

For Alaska, the consequences are dire. The state’s economy depends on seamless access through Canada, and any disruption could lead to shortages of essential goods. Remote towns like Hyder, which rely entirely on Canadian roads for access, would be hit hardest. Residents are already stockpiling supplies, fearing the worst. The tolls are framed as temporary, but industry analysts warn they could become permanent if the trade war intensifies.

The conflict has also spilled into maritime routes. Most ships bound for Alaska travel through Canadian waters, particularly the Inside Passage, a protected network of channels that cruise liners and cargo vessels rely on for safe travel. If Canada were to restrict access or impose new fees, shipping costs would skyrocket, and tourism—a vital sector for Alaska—would suffer. Even air travel is at risk, as flights from the lower 48 to Alaska often depend on Canadian airspace. Denying overflight rights would force airlines to take longer, costlier routes, disrupting both passenger travel and cargo shipments.

The standoff is more than a trade dispute; it’s a clash of national pride. Trump has framed the issue as a matter of American sovereignty, while Eby has positioned himself as a defender of Canadian interests. The rhetoric has grown increasingly personal, with Trump dismissing Eby as a “weak provincial bureaucrat” and Eby firing back with declarations of defiance. The longer the stalemate continues, the harder it becomes to find a diplomatic solution.

Border communities, caught in the middle, are pleading for de-escalation. Mayors of towns like Skagway and Haines have sent joint letters to both governments, warning of the economic devastation that further retaliation would bring. But their voices are being drowned out by the larger geopolitical struggle. For now, Alaska’s fate hangs in the balance, dependent on a web of routes that Canada could tighten or sever at any moment.