Great Lakes bind U.S., Canada trade imperiled by Trump tariffs

The American Century, a 300-meter-long bulk carrier, sails the Great Lakes nearly every day as part of its route between the U.S. and Canada. Built in 1981 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, the vessel is owned by American Steamship, a subsidiary of Mainstay Maritime based in Williamsville, New York. Although it once set records for coal payloads in the 1990s, the current owner reports that iron ore trade has been disrupted by U.S. tariffs.

The aging "lakers" face uncertainty as strained relations between Ottawa and Washington could potentially cause long-term damage to supply chains across land and water.