Canada’s Peace Bridge Duty Free placed into receivership amid cross-border slowdown
The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, which owns and operates the Peace Bridge, asserts C$17 million (US$12.3 million) has gone unpaid over several years, with Royal Bank of Canada separately claiming C$3.3 million (US$2.4 million) in outstanding loan balances.
CANADA. In a significant blow to travel retail, Peace Bridge Duty Free, a key retailer at one of Canada’s busiest border crossings, has been ordered into receivership.
Citing a ruling from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, The Canadian Press reported that a receiver has been officially appointed to take possession of the retailer’s assets, administer the liquidation and facilitate creditor repayments.
The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, which owns and operates the Peace Bridge, asserts C$17 million (US$12.3 million) has gone unpaid over several years, with Royal Bank of Canada separately claiming C$3.3 million (US$2.4 million) in outstanding loan balances.
In its response, Peace Bridge Duty Free contested the claimed figures, while confirming debt in the millions remains unpaid.
The Peace Bridge is located at the Niagara River Crossing between Buffalo, New York and Fort Erie, Ontario.
The retailer continues operations despite financial headwinds weighing on the country’s duty-free sector, where reduced cross-border traffic between Canadians and Americans has resulted in sales declines.
Cross-border travel has declined amid US President Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs and annexation. Citing US Customs and Border Protection data, NBC News reported that border crossings from Canada to the USA dropped by nearly 1 million travellers in March, down -22% year-on-year.
The figures indicate the sharpest decrease since the pandemic and mark the third consecutive month of reduced cross-border traffic. 
