U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is warning that former President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, set to take effect Wednesday, could cost Upstate New York families over $6,000 per year and threaten more than 150,000 jobs across key industries.
Speaking Tuesday, Schumer said the tariffs amount to a $7 billion hit for Upstate residents and businesses, raising prices on everything from gas and groceries to cars and construction materials.
Families Could Pay $6,500 More a Year
According to new data, Trump’s tariff plan could cost the average American household as much as $6,500 annually. A breakdown from the Yale Budget Lab shows:
- $3,400 from “reciprocal” tariffs Trump has proposed
- $2,000 from tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China
- $1,100 from new taxes on autos, pharmaceuticals, and chips
“Trump’s tariffs are a tax hike on working families,” Schumer said. “If this goes forward, Upstate New Yorkers will feel it first and worst — from higher grocery bills to shrinking retirement accounts.”
Tariffs Could Disrupt Tourism, Manufacturing, and Energy
The senator said tariffs on Canadian goods would hit Upstate especially hard, given deep economic ties to Canada. New York exported $17.4 billion in goods to Canada last year and imported $20.5 billion — with many products key to manufacturing, farming, and housing.
The North Country depends heavily on construction materials like asphalt and cement from Quebec. Nearly 100% of that supply crosses the northern border.
Farmers also stand to lose. Canada buys 54% of New York’s agricultural exports. In 2023, that amounted to $1.4 billion in farm goods.
Restaurants and breweries face higher costs too, with tariffs expected to raise the price of canned beverages and groceries. Analysts project a 3% annual increase in grocery prices, about $185 per household.
Canadian tourism is already slowing. Car crossings through Plattsburgh dropped 16% compared to February 2024. A 21% overall drop in Canadian travel to the U.S. is expected this year, with 45% of Quebec tourists canceling U.S. trips. Schumer said Upstate’s tourism economy could be among the hardest hit, especially heading into summer.
155,000+ Jobs at Risk in Targeted Industries
Trump’s tariffs target industries that support 159,400 jobs across Upstate New York, according to a New York Times analysis. Schumer shared a regional breakdown:
- Rochester–Finger Lakes: 33,200 jobs
- Western New York: 30,100
- Hudson Valley: 27,800
- Southern Tier: 17,300
- Central NY: 16,100
- Capital Region: 14,400
- Mohawk Valley: 10,000
- North Country: 6,100
Plattsburgh, home to over 100 Canadian-owned business locations, could see major losses. One in five local workers there depends on cross-border commerce.
Higher Energy and Fuel Costs Expected
New York imports large amounts of electricity from Canadian hydropower. Tariffs could increase electricity costs by as much as $105 million annually. Heating oil, diesel, propane, gasoline, and natural gas prices would also rise, pushing total energy-related costs for New Yorkers higher by more than $250 million.
Breweries and manufacturers across the state have raised concerns about the cost of aluminum, most of which comes from outside the U.S.
Retirement Savings and Market Confidence Decline
Schumer said stock market instability tied to Trump’s tariff threats is already hitting retirees. The S&P 500 is on track for its worst quarter relative to global markets since the 1980s, according to Bloomberg.
The senator also criticized Trump’s justification for the tariffs. The former president declared a fentanyl emergency to impose the new trade barriers, but Schumer pointed to data showing less than 0.2% of fentanyl entering the U.S. comes from Canada.
“These tariffs won’t stop drugs — but they will wreck jobs, prices, and retirements across Upstate,” Schumer said. “We need to fight unfair trade, but going after Canada is the wrong fight.”
Senate to Vote on Resolution to Block Tariffs
Schumer said the Senate will vote later Tuesday on a resolution to end the national emergency Trump used to justify the tariffs. He called on Republicans to join Democrats in blocking the trade measures before they take effect.
“Tomorrow, if these tariffs begin, it will be a gut punch to Upstate New York,” Schumer said. “We need to stop this before the damage becomes irreversible.”
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