PLATTSBURGH — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is leading a push to get President Donald Trump to back off proposed tariffs on Canadian goods that the senator says will be a “dagger to the heart of Upstate New York.”
Trump’s tariffs, that are expected to go into effect today after several delays, would jack up prices for those in New York and have a devastating impact on families and businesses, Schumer said.
If the tariffs are enacted, Schumer said costs would jump by about $6,500 for gas, groceries, cars, common goods and could impact up to 150,000 jobs throughout Upstate.
He fears a recession.
“That’s the last thing we need,” Schumer said on a video call with Upstate reporters Tuesday.
“A recession where it’s harder to keep a job, harder to get a job, harder to get a raise.”
RUSSIAN ROULETTE
Schumer said the S&P 500 index is on track for its worst quarter compared to the rest of the world since the 1980s in anticipation of these Trump tariffs.
“It’s hurting the retirements of many seniors as well. They say ‘I don’t have enough money in my 401K so I can’t retire,” Schumer said.
“Trump has no plan. It’s like playing Russian Roulette with Upstate New York’s economy and Upstate New York’s jobs.”
The senator said he has gotten calls from farmers, worried workers, and factory owners scrambling in the face of coming tariffs, and said it will be New York businesses, seniors and working and middle-class class families who will be footing the bill for this tariff war – in the form of higher prices, a slower economy and shrinking life savings.
“Tomorrow (Wednesday) Trump says he will begin imposing his destructive sweeping tariffs, and if that happens it will be a gut punch to Upstate New York’s economy. Plain and simple, Trump’s tariffs are a tax increase on Upstate New York, a massive new destructive national sales tax for all of America,” Schumer said.
“Trump’s tariff war has already created chaos, and the economic uncertainty is causing the stock market to fall, hurting seniors’ retirements, cratering consumer confidence, and jeopardizing the jobs of thousands of New Yorkers. If this tariff war continues, it could devastate Upstate New York’s economy in ways we haven’t seen since the height of the pandemic.”
Schumer said Trump has said straight up that he doesn’t care if prices go up.
“Well, I do,” Schumer said.
“I am all for addressing trade imbalances. In fact, Trump should be spending far more time going after China’s long-standing trade cheating that has robbed Upstate New York of jobs for far too long, rather than picking a trade war with Canada that will only cost more New York jobs and drive up prices for everyone.”
Schumer said some Republicans nationally have said they do not support the president’s tariffs because of how destructive they will be.
“The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, hardly a liberal place, said that the president’s tariff’s are quote, ‘the dumbest trade war in history.’”
LOCAL IMPACT
Schumer, who has been New York’s senator since 1999 and has visited the North Country numerous times, said the tariff’s will have a direct impact on the Plattsburgh region, which is home to about 100 Canadian companies.
“Twenty percent of the workforce in Plattsburgh works for a Canadian or border-related employer. What will happen to these jobs?” Schumer said.
According to the Yale Budget Lab, the tariff’s would increase costs for the average American family by up to:
• $3,400 due to Trump’s threatened “reciprocal” tariffs
• $2,000 due to tariffs on goods from Canada/Mexico/China
• $1,100 due to tariffs on goods in the automotive, pharmaceutical, and chip industries
Schumer added, “Trump’s tariffs are already slowing sales, and tourism from Canada is down, hurting Upstate’s restaurants and Main Streets. No matter which way you slice it, costs are going to skyrocket for consumers,” he said.
“If you’re in Upstate New York, you’ll feel it first, and worse than just about anywhere in the country.”
Schumer said everyone, especially New York Republicans, needs to stand up against Trump’s “senseless, job-killing, cost-increasing tax on Upstate New Yorkers.”
Schumer said he isn’t buying Trump’s explanation that his tariff’s are justified because fentanyl enters the U.S. from Canada.
Less than 0.2% of fentanyl enters the U.S. from Canada, Schumer said.
“Instead of helping combat the fentanyl crisis, these tariffs will only harm American families, small businesses, and jobs,” Schumer said.
The Senate was poised to vote on a resolution terminating Trump’s national emergency that is justifying his destructive tariffs that would require Republican support.
“Tell our Republican colleagues they have to make a choice. Do they want to side with Upstate New York families, businesses and farmers or do they want to side with Trump’s destructive tariffs,” Schumer said.
“Time is short to stop the permanent damage to our economy that would directly hit every single Upstate New Yorker right in their wallets.”