Schumer says tariffs, insults from Trump driving Canadians away from WNY
NY businesses feel impact of higher tariff costs, fewer Canadians crossing border
Photos by Tom Rivers: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer was outside Brunner in Medina on Tuesday. The event was focused on his support for the Job Corps program, but Schumer also highlighted the negative impacts of U.S.-imposed tariffs on Canada. The U.S. imposed a 25 percent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum imports on March 12 and then increased the tariff to 50 percent on June 4. That has significantly raised the costs for Brunner, which imports steel from Canada. Brunner manufactures brake systems for tractor trailers. The overall tariff on Canadian imports was raised from 25 to 35 percent on Aug. 1.
MEDINA – U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Western New York businesses have long enjoyed a rewarding and reciprocal friendship with Canada, a relationship that is being put to the test by the Trump Administration.
Trump has imposed hefty tariffs on goods from Canada and insults from the president, who repeatedly has urged Canada to become the U.S.’s 51st state, are driving away Canadian tourists, Schumer said in Medina last week.
Schumer also highlighted the issue during a news conference in Niagara County. He said Trump has strained the relationship with the United States’ most important ally and trading partner. The overall tariff on Canadian imports was raised from 25 to 35 percent on Aug. 1. The tariff on steel is at 50 percent.
“We have a really strong relationship. We depend on all the cross-border traffic,” Schumer said in Medina about the US relationship with Canada. “All of these tariffs have hurt commerce that has thrived. The tariffs should be pinpointed and directed at countries doing bad things, not across the board.”
Chart: U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s Office. This chart shows land crossings along US-Canadian border are down about 1 million from February through June.
Schumer said cross-border travelers from Canada dropped by 975,000 from February through June, taking a big chunk of the tourism industry and threatening many small businesses who cater to tourists.
“I’m all for addressing trade imbalances, but Trump’s chaotic and ill-conceived tariffs are undermining these goals,” Schumer stated in a press release. “Turning our allies like Canada against us is devastating Western New York’s economy in ways we haven’t seen since the height of the pandemic.”
Schumer said he will force a vote in the Senate in September to the end the trade war in Canada. He said House Republicans from Upstate need to stand up to Trump and protect their communities.
“Western NY families and small businesses are paying the price for these chaotic tariffs out of their wallets, whether it be in higher costs at the grocery store or fewer tourists on our Main Streets,” Schumer said. “Trump’s tariffs are a tax increase on Western NY families, plain and simple, and we are here to say enough is enough.”
When the Senate reconvenes next month, Schumer said he will force a vote on ending “Trump’s reckless and costly trade war.”
If the high tariffs continue and Trump’s hostility towards Canada, Schumer said it would result in “a death sentence for restaurants, hotels, and shops across Upstate NY.”
Western NY families and small businesses are being hit harder than nearly anywhere else in the country, with tourism dropping nearly 975,000 travelers across the U.S.-Canada border since Trump took office and costs increasing for families by nearly $2,400 a year, Schumer said.
Canadians are canceling trips to the United States because of Trump’s tariff war and his insulting threats to annex Canada as the 51st state, Schumer said. Canadian tourism is nearly 40% of the overall tourism economy in Buffalo, and across Western New York, businesses are seeing the impacts of fewer Canadian tourists and panicking that it will get worse, he said.
Schumer highlighted Outlets of Niagara Falls USA, which is experiencing 30% less foot traffic than last year, with various stores in the mall seeing at least double-digit sales decreases.
The Aquarium of Niagara, which opened a major expansion in 2024 designed to enhance the summer visitor experience and attract more tourists, instead saw an 18% decrease in attendance in July.
Artpark, a popular event venue in Lewiston, is projecting at least a 60% total loss of Canadian visitors, equating to a minimum of $150,000 in lost revenue for the nonprofit organization.
The tariffs are hurting WNY businesses that depend on materials from Canada, Schumer said. He highlighted BNP Empowered Print, a print shop based in Buffalo that prints newsletters and mailers for major companies in Western New York like Tops Friendly Markets, Valu Home Centers, and Pet Supplies Plus. BNP purchases all of its paper from Canada, and it predicts an annualized cost increase for materials such as ink and printing plates of more than $225,000 due to Trump’s tariffs.
“The unnecessary trade war with Canada is creating significant stress on our Canadian print business, as we currently absorb 25% retaliatory tariffs in response to the Trump Administration’s actions,” said BNP Empowered Print President Thomas Majerski. “We fully support Senator Schumer’s efforts to put an end to this extremely harmful policy with our closest ally and number one trading partner.”
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz President Trump should work with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to mutually grow the inter-connected economies.
“I join Senator Schumer in calling for end to this needless trade war with Canada and then begin restoration of the prior friendly relations enjoyed by the US and Canada, a relationship built upon mutual respect, especially for each nation’s sovereignty,” Poloncarz said.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer greets Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman last week in Medina outside Brunner.
