Can Montana Tribes Outwit Tariffs With an Old Treaty?

A group of Canadian Indigenous nations is reviving something older than the US/Canada border itself: trade routes that predate customs agents and toll booths. The Standing Buffalo Dakota Tribe and several Saskatchewan nations are joining forces with Montana tribes such as the Fort Peck Sioux to open a tariff-free trade corridor across the U.S.–Canada border, Mother Jones reported.

The Jay Treaty and the Loophole in Law

This concept isn’t just about saving on shipping costs. It’s based on treaty law, not the whims of modern-day officials. Specifically, it stems from the Jay Treaty of 1794, which recognized that Native Americans had the right to cross borders freely for trade. Now, more than two centuries later, those rights are being invoked to move goods like art, food, and even couches between tribal nations. All without paying Uncle Sam a dime.

Skepticism From South of the Border

It’s a bold move, but here in Montana, we’ve learned how treaties are handled by the federal government. The US doesn't always handle things the way it says they are.  We love the idea, but follow-through isn’t exactly their specialty. The moment this plan starts saving people real money will probably be the same moment someone in D.C. starts reading the fine print out loud.

Whiskey, Poutine, and Wishful Thinking

If it actually works, we might finally see cheaper Canadian whiskey and oil. Or maybe even discounted poutine. Imagine Fort Peck pulling off what Washington can’t: a functioning trade route built on promises that predate the United States. Until then, we’ll stay cautiously optimistic and keep one eye on the border in case someone decides to start taxing maple syrup and beaver pelts even more than they already are.