Senator Chuck Schumer is warning that a new wave of tariffs under former President Donald Trump’s administration could slam Upstate New York families with higher prices and threaten thousands of local jobs.
Schumer said the tariffs, set to take effect April 2, could increase household costs by up to $6,500 per year. That spike would hit everyday essentials like groceries, gas, cars, and other goods. He estimated that as many as 150,000 jobs across industries in Upstate New York could be impacted.
In Central New York alone, 16,100 jobs may be at risk, according to a report cited by the New York Times. Local businesses, including car dealerships and restaurants that rely on cross-border tourism, are already feeling the pressure.
“Trump’s tariffs are already slowing sales, and tourism from Canada is down, hurting Upstate’s restaurants and Main Streets,” Schumer said. “If you’re in Upstate New York, you’ll feel it first and worse than just about anywhere in the country.”
He urged Republican lawmakers in the state to join him in pushing back against what he called a “senseless, job-killing, cost-increasing tax” on Upstate residents.
The tariffs, which Trump has dubbed “Liberation Day,” are scheduled to take effect Tuesday.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].