Canada: Freedom Convoy Blocks Major Route Along U.S. Border That Facilitates 25 Percent Of U.S.-Canada Trade, Exacerbates Supply Chain Crisis

Freedom Convoy, an ongoing popular protest movement in Canada against policies of Justin Trudeau-led government, moved towards the U.S. border and blockaded one of the busiest commercial bridges on a crucial trade route between two countries.

The massive convoy of trucks created a huge traffic gridlock along the Ambassador bridge that connects Windsor in Canada to Detroit in U.S. This trade route facilitates 25 percent of all U.S.-Canada trade.

Vehicular traffic came to a standstill . The bridge was closed at about 8 p.m., leaving all the truckers and travelers stranded.

Truck drivers needing to cross the border were being re-routed to the Port Huron Blue Water Bridge with the Windsor tunnel inaccessible.

"Many businesses have been through so much in the last two years,” Windsor Star quoted Rakesh Naidu, CEO for the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce as saying.

“This couldn’t come at a worse time. To constrict the border like this will impact everyone not just in Windsor, but Ontario and Canada. You have thousands of businesses that rely on the border and trade coming through. You have inventory based on just-in-time delivery." he added

On Tuesday, Windsor police posted an update that the U.S.-bound lane had been re-opened although still with some congestion.

Ottawa remains in a state of emergency as protesters in trucks opposed to Covid-19 restrictions continue to paralyse the centre of the Canadian capital. Hundreds of truckers have remained on the streets for 12 days.

“Individuals are trying to blockade our economy, our democracy, and our fellow citizens’ daily lives,” Prime Minister Trudeau said on Monday. “It has to stop. The people of Ottawa don’t deserve to be harassed in their own neighborhoods.”

Amid soaring inflation and a supply chain crisis, the cross-border blockade could exacerbate shipping delays and result in inventory supply shortages.

Canada is already dealing with rising inflation and a supply chain already strained by the pandemic and bad weather. Canada's economy is estimated to have lost 200,000 jobs in December, according to Statistics Canada, as COVID-19 shutdowns related to the Omicron variant saw many businesses close up shop.