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Roughly 100 Canadian police officers assembled Saturday morning in the border city of Windsor, Ontario, to begin removing protesters and vehicles that have mostly blocked traffic since Monday on the Ambassador Bridge, a crucial U.S.-Canada trade corridor.
“We urge all demonstrators to act lawfully & peacefully,” Windsor Police said on its official Twitter account. “Commuters are still being asked to avoid the areas affected by the demonstrations at this time.”
Some vehicles that were part of the blockade departed once police arrived at about 8:20 a.m. ET. Some protesters started to take down tents that served as makeshift kitchens. A phalanx of officers, some carrying what appeared to be tear-gas canisters, walked toward the demonstrators that remained at an intersection near the mouth of the bridge on a major north-south corridor, forcing them to step back. Some protesters waved Canadian flags, some sang national anthem, “O Canada.” A dark, armored police vehicle was on the scene, providing support for the officers.
A Canadian judge granted police permission to forcibly remove the protesters starting Friday evening. The City of Windsor and representatives for the auto industry applied for the court order.
Protesters packed up supplies Saturday in Windsor, preparing for police enforcement of a court injunction against their demonstration.
Photo:
Nathan Denette/Associated Press
The bridge, one of the busiest border crossings in North America, accommodates roughly 30% of annual two-way U.S.-Canada trade, which recent U.S. data pegs at more than $600 billion.
Over $28 billion of two-way U.S.-Canada trade in motor vehicles and auto parts was transported last year via the Ambassador Bridge, according to Statistics Canada.
Commercial trucks have been rerouted north to the Blue Water Bridge, which crosses the St. Clair River and connects Port Huron, Mich., with Sarnia, Ontario, roughly 66 miles north of the Detroit-Windsor crossing. Truckers have faced long delays in crossing the border.
Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau
said Friday that the border crossing “cannot and will not remain closed” and called on protesters to leave, saying they were taking the risk of getting a criminal record or having their drivers’ licenses revoked.
Police looked on as a protest vehicle left a demonstration that was blocking the Ambassador Bridge.
Photo:
Nathan Denette/Associated Press
North American auto makers, including
General Motors Co.
,
NV and
Ford Motor Co.
, have curtailed production this week and sent employees home in some cases as parts required for assembly couldn’t be delivered because of the protest. Some Canadian auto-parts suppliers have also started to reduce production because they are unable to ship orders to the U.S.
Police officers standing guard on a street near the Ambassador Bridge on Saturday.
Photo:
CARLOS OSORIO/REUTERS
Write to Vipal Monga at vipal.monga@wsj.com and Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com
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