Fort Covington, N.Y. – The three‑story Half‑Way House Freight Forwarding, owned by 65‑year‑old Louis Patenaude, sits literally on the United States‑Canada border, with one entrance at 228 Dundee Road, New York, and the other at 8777 Route 132, Dundee, Quebec. A painted line on the floor marks where America ends and Canada begins.
Local business built on free trade
For decades the shop has offered a convenient solution for Canadians who need to ship items that can only travel within the United States. Customers bring packages ranging from old car parts to Amazon parcels, and Patenaude’s modest rates – usually no more than $20 – have kept the operation thriving. The business relies on the free‑trade relationship that has existed between the two nations for generations.
Tariff escalation threatens the model
That model is now under pressure. In late August, President Trump announced 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian products and threatened to raise duties on Canadian automobiles to 50% starting Jan. 1. He also signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.” In response, Canada announced matching 50% duties on U.S. steel and aluminum and new tariffs on paper, construction materials, home appliances and agricultural goods.
Patenaude says the new taxes could make everyday items too expensive for his customers. “Everything that’s happening is all political,” he told CNN, adding that he has no idea how much the tariffs will ultimately cost his shoppers.
Customers feel the pinch
Most of Patenaude’s 3,000 regulars travel from Ottawa, Montreal and nearby border towns to drop off or pick up shipments. They must still clear their goods at a customs office just 100 feet from the building, where the new duties are felt most directly. Some customers have already asked how much of a hit to expect, but Patenaude admits he cannot provide a clear answer.
Economists note that tariffs typically burden companies and consumers rather than foreign governments. A Bank of Canada study found that when Canada imposed 25% counter‑tariffs in March 2025, retail prices for affected goods rose about 6% more than non‑tariffed items, though prices later fell back after the duties were lifted.
Historical roots and future uncertainty
The building itself dates back more than 200 years. Patenaude’s grandfather bought the property in the 1960s and ran it as a hotel; his father, Paul Maurice, later turned it into a bar called the Half‑Way House before closing in the 1990s. Two decades later, Patenaude revived the space as a freight‑forwarding shop, capitalising on the unique border location.
Patenaude is considering expanding the business by obtaining a customs‑broker license, which could let him clear goods himself and potentially increase revenue. However, the structure needs extensive repairs, and he has put both parcels – one in New York and one in Quebec – on the market for $350,000 each.
Local voices on the trade fight
Joseph Steinberg, an international‑economics professor at the University of Toronto, says border communities often feel insulated from the rhetoric of the trade war. “These are people who are not going to change that part of their lives because of this trade conflict, unless, God forbid, they’re forced to,” he explained.
For now, Patenaude remains hopeful that the longstanding friendship between the two sides will endure. “The more likely outcome is people get fed up with government,” he said, emphasizing that the real impact will be felt by families and small businesses trying to keep their doors open.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
