Schumer says tariffs would hit Upstate New Yorkers hard
President Donald Trump is expected to impose a slew of tariffs on products from other countries Wednesday, what he’s calling “Liberation Day.”
That includes 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods — including those compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The president made a temporary exception for USMCA-compliant goods last month.
Speaking to reporters via Zoom Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that means one thing: higher prices.
"Trump's tariffs are a tax increase on Upstate New York families, plain and simple," he said. "A new national sales tax on all Americans. It's a gut punch to Upstate New York's economy. A gut punch to New York’s economy that could devastate our families and small businesses in ways we haven’t seen since the height of the pandemic."
According to Schumer, the tariffs could raise costs for the average American family by up to $6,500 per year, and almost 160,000 Upstate New Yorkers work in industries that would be directly targeted by the tariffs.
The senator said Upstate is particularly vulnerable because of how intertwined its economy is with Canada.
"In the North Country, over 6,100 jobs (would be affected)," he said, noting that figure doesn't include industries like tourism. "Listen to this: Plattsburgh is home to 100 Canadian companies. Twenty percent of the workforce in Plattsburgh works for a Canadian or border-related employee (employer)."
Schumer called on New York’s Republican representatives to come out against the tariffs. The Senate is expected to vote on a resolution that would roll back the import taxes on Canadian goods. It would need to pass in the House to go into effect.
