Senator proposes skipping Canadian ports on Alaska cruises

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An aerial view of Victoria, British Columbia, a common port of call on Alaska cruises.
An aerial view of Victoria, British Columbia, a common port of call on Alaska cruises. Photo Credit: Russ Heinl/Shutterstock

Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan is fanning the flames of the U.S.-Canada trade war, saying on a news talk radio show this week that he is seeking a waiver to the Passenger Vessel Services Act. The waiver would allow cruise ships departing the U.S. on Alaska cruises to skip port calls in Canada.

The PVSA requires foreign-flagged vessels departing the U.S. (most cruise ships are foreign-flagged) to call at a non-U.S. port during the cruise, which is a reason why Alaska cruises departing Seattle include a call in Victoria, British Columbia.

Sullivan said a waiver could cost Canada "billions" of tourism dollars during an interview on the 650-KENI radio station in Anchorage, reported the Anchorage Daily News. Sullivan reportedly said Congress could ask President Trump to issue a waiver through an executive order. 

The president has imposed a 25% tariff on most goods from Canada, to which Canadian officials have responded with $21 billion in retaliatory tariffs.

Sullivan's comment came days after British Columbia Premier David Eby said he is looking at placing tolls on commercial trucks driving through Canada to Alaska from the Lower 48, according to a report from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Congress once before exempted cruise ships from calling in Canada. Lawmakers passed a temporary law during the pandemic in 2021, which allowed cruise ships to skip Canada, which required a 100% Covid vaccination rate to call there. Lawmakers have tried unsuccessfully to extend the waiver.  

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