Upstate New York is bracing for what could be devastating impacts of President Trump’s tariffs on Canada set to take effect Wednesday Senator Chuck Schumer says the state’s economy faces $7 billion in increased costs per year, with the average family paying an additional $6,500 annually. He says nearly every sector will feel a gut punch due to the state’s proximity to Canada.
“I get calls from small businesses and upstate every day, scared that they'll need to close or lay off employees if the tariffs go through," Schumer said. "Local farmers who won't be able to sell their crops, Construction companies who rely on Canadian lumber or cement, and breweries that use Canadian barley and aluminum to make their cans. Hotels worry they won't see tourists.”
Schumer estimates about 160,000 jobs across upstate are linked to industries targeted by the tariffs, including 33,000 jobs in Central New York. He says those numbers don’t include unrelated fields like tourism from Canada, which has already seen a sharp decline in the North Country. Schumer says Trump’s trade war is too broad and misdirected.
“We have to address trade imbalances. I've been as tough on China as anybody," Schumer said. "But that's what Trump should be doing. He should be spending far more time going after China's long standing trade cheating that has robbed upstate New York of jobs, not Canada, and picking a trade war that will only cost New York jobs and drive up prices for everyone.”
The uncertainty of the tariffs has already shaken the stock market and consumer confidence. Economists say businesses feel less safe making investments, and warn it could lead to a recession. Schumer says the senate is planning a vote on a resolution to stop the tariffs from taking effect.
