Michigan’s governor blocks more trade than the truckers did

“If you’re going to unlawfully block international trade, it will not stand.” So says Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. This tough talk is ironic, coming from an executive who repeatedly has tried to block trade and other economic activity in order to suit her policy agenda.

The governor made her bold statements in a Feb. 14 virtual presentation to the Detroit Regional Chamber. She was reacting to the Freedom Convoy’s blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, spanning the Detroit River to Windsor, Ontario, which stifled millions of dollars’ worth of economic activity by halting traffic at the most active border crossing in North America for almost a week. 

The convoy of Canadian truckers and the blockade of the bridge grew out of a protest against strict Canadian COVID-19 vaccination mandates, which required commercial truckers to get vaccinated or lose their jobs. Canadian officials helped remove the blockade late last week, and traffic once again is flowing.

Despite that momentary easing of tensions, Whitmer felt compelled to caution anyone who might entertain the notion of establishing a similar blockade in the future. “We cannot let these events go unchallenged,” she said. “We have to make sure people understand that if you’re going to do something and create damage in the economy, we won’t let it stand — no matter what the cause or what the substance of the ‘debate’ is.”

But the governor’s own policies would do just that. Whitmer is unilaterally attempting to shutter the Line 5 pipeline, which transports 540,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids to refineries across the region. If successful, her actions would effectively remove the United States from the 1977 Transit Pipelines Treaty, which guarantees the uninterrupted transport of light crude and natural gas liquids between Canada and this country.

One study by the Consumer Energy Alliance estimated the pipeline’s closure would cost more than “33,000 jobs and a minimum of $20.8 billion in economic losses” across Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. Representatives of Ontario’s government and industry testified before the Michigan Legislature in early 2021, noting that the pipeline provided between 40 percent and 50 percent of the fuel demands for the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

There’s also a question of whether Whitmer has the legal power to shut down the pipeline. Singlehandedly interrupting the operation of international treaties is not a recognized power of state governors. Her refusal to relent on the issue has forced the Canadian government to invoke Article Six of the treaty, claiming the governor’s actions threatened energy trading between the two nations. To borrow a line from the governor’s speech, her demand that the pipeline close immediately would “create damage in the econom[ies]” of both nations and also could “unlawfully block international trade.”

The governor’s willingness to do damage to economies doesn’t stop there. Almost two years ago, Whitmer was busy experimenting with locking down most of Michigan’s economy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among others, she blockaded hardware stores, golf courses, bowling alleys, campgrounds, fitness centers and barbershops, even preventing people from boating. She ordered another lockdown last winter, too. The economic costs of these actions are so large and complex that they are difficult to estimate.

Nor have the governor’s drastic public health policies been consistent with scientific evidence. Despite record-breaking COVID-19 numbers in recent months, Whitmer has abandoned lockdowns and apparently pivoted to a newfound concern for uninterrupted economic trade.

Considering the governor’s past actions, it is difficult to take seriously her concern about the Freedom Convoy’s blockage of the Ambassador Bridge. Whitmer repeatedly has demonstrated a willingness to negatively impact both international trade and regional economies when her policy agenda demands it.

Jason Hayes is the director of environmental policy for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a research and educational institute based in Midland, Mich. Michael Van Beek is director of research for the center.