U.S border officers turned back Campobello

U.S border officers turned back Campobello-bound truck because it carried booze

New tariff laws restrict import or transit of any Canadian alcohol through U.S.

New American tariff rules had an impact on New Brunswick on the first day they came into effect.

What was a regular truck trip from St. Stephen to Campobello Island through Maine on Tuesday was stopped at the border and denied entry by U.S. customs officials.

The reason was that the truck was carrying an item now banned from entering the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s latest tariff escalation — even if the item is bound for a Canadian island.

In an email Wednesday, Ryan Brissette, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, confirmed officials in Calais encountered a bonded commercial vehicle travelling from St. Stephen, N.B., to Campobello.

Border official cites presidential order

Normally, the truck would pass through under the "in-bond" process that, according to the U.S. agency's website, allows merchandise to come into that country “without appraisement or payment of duties” to another U.S. port of entry or approved destination.

But Brissette cited the presidential proclamation that took effect that morning that banned the import — or transit through the U.S. — of certain Canadian alcohol.

“Upon inspection, officers identified over 1,000 bottles of spirits within the shipment,” he said.

“Because the cargo fell within the scope of these new restrictions, it could no longer proceed under its intended in-bond transit status."

Campobello, in the Bay of Fundy, is part of New Brunswick, although Canada and the U.S. share in the operation of Roosevelt Campobello International Park, where former U.S. president Franklin Roosevelt had a summer home.

The only way to reach Campobello is by ferry from Deer Island, which runs only until Thanksgiving, or by the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Bridge from Lubec, Maine.

Brissette said customs officers handled the situation this week in accordance with procedures, and the truck was turned back to Canada.

After the incident there were renewed calls for an extended ferry service, but the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a statement that it had no updates on the issue.

Transport Canada hasn’t granted an interview or issued a statement.

"I am the only member of Parliament who has to drive through a foreign country to get to a part of my riding,” said Conservative MP John Williamson.

He said in an interview with CBC's Shift that the truck contained mail from Canada Post and goods for the island.

“My immediate concern is that Campobello residents, of which there are approximately 1,000, could literally be cut off from their country because of this dispute,” Williamson said.

The truck ended up getting to Campobello via ferry from Deer Island, and the shipment ultimately arrived at its destination, Campobello Value Foods, the agency store for N.B. Liquor.

But the grocery store is also worried about the delivery of milk and other groceries.

Store manager Vikas Vakkanti said Sobeys co-ordinates the delivery, and it decided to ship by ferry too.

On Maine's doorstep, residents of N.B.'s Campobello Island feel abandoned in time of trade crisis

The U.S. ban includes molasses and dairy products that contain whey.

“They don't want to take the risk of crossing the border right now,” Vakkanti said.

Williamson said this is far from the first time Campobello has been caught up in bigger issues affecting border travel. He pointed to when medical marijuana was legalized in Canada, the pandemic, and the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

“But we've always worked through them, and I'm hoping we can do that here,” Williamson said.

He added that he has reached out to both the U.S. ambassador to Canada and Global Affairs Canada about the situation.

Williamson said using the ferry to get the truck to the island was a solution that worked now but not for long, given the ferry season will end soon.

“I have long been an advocate for a full-year permanent ferry between Deer Island and Campobello." Williamson said.

Former premier Blaine Higgs wasn't interested in pursuing the ferry idea, and his successor, Susan Holt, doesn't seem interested either, Williamson said.

“But it should happen, if for no other reason than to assert our sovereignty and make sure our citizens, our fellow New Brunswick citizens on Campobello, are serviced.”

Williamson pointed to ferries in British Columbia that receive federal funding, and questioned why the same can’t happen in New Brunswick.

In an interview with CBC Radio’s The Current, Campobello Mayor Harvey Matthews said everything on the island either comes from the U.S. or has to go through it.

Matthews said he found it hard to believe a bonded truck that wasn’t making any stops in the U.S. was denied entry.

“As far as the alcohol itself goes, I mean, yes, we can live without that, but that's part of the income for the store that … was receiving that,” he said.

“But, you don't know what might be next is the other thing, right?”

Matthews said as the trade war is happening, “I've always preached that we're the same where we're supposed to be partners and allies and friends.”

But he said the leaders of both countries aren’t realizing how much the tariffs are impacting everyday people."

Sam Farley is a Fredericton-based reporter at CBC New Brunswick. Originally from Boston, he is a journalism graduate of the University of King's College in Halifax. He can be reached at sam.farley@cbc.ca