Richard HallerIn Watertown, Schumer stands with North Country businesses impacted by tariffs
President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada has hit the North Country’s economy hard. Tourism from Canada is down, and some businesses have lost sales or been forced to shut down.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer held a press conference in Watertown on Monday to address the tariffs’ impact on North Country residents.
Senator Schumer stood with North Country leaders and business owners at 1812 on the River, a brewery and restaurant whose craft beer has been impacted by increased prices from tariffs. He said President Trump’s trade war against Canada is hurting the local economy.
“Let’s be clear, said Schumer, “Trump’s tariffs are a tax increase on North Country families, small businesses and people, plain and simple.”
There is currently a 35% levy against all Canadian goods. In October, President Trump said he’s ending all trade negotiations after an anti-tariff TV ad aired in Canada.
Schumer brought examples of North Country businesses and industries that have been impacted by tariffs, including the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, which has seen a decrease in cross-border traffic. He also said Alcoa, the aluminum company in Massena, is estimated to lose $850 million a year.
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“Even for a big company like Alcoa, that is a lot of money,” said Schumer. “Apothecary chocolates in Colton was forced to close its doors and lay off three full-time employees when tariffs surged the price of a bag of its specialty chocolates by more than 180%,” said Schumer. “From what I’m told, the owner couldn’t be here today because she had to go out and get a job.”
Several North Country business owners and leaders also spoke. Alex Morgia, mayor of Sackets Harbor and owner of Monthly Boxers, a third-party logistics company that relies on cross-border shipping, said that uncertainty is just as harmful as increased prices.
“When tariff rates change unpredictably, my customers freeze,” said Morgia. “They delay projects, scale back orders, or cancel some entirely. Because they don’t know what the tariff will be when they land in the U.S, that uncertainty is the real killer.”
Schumer also addressed other economic issues affecting North Country residents. The Trump Administration has delayed assistance for home heating through the HEAP program. Schumer said Congress has already allocated the money, but he was unsure when it would reach low-income residents who rely on it.
“They need help and HEAP has always done that,” said Schumer. “We can get the money to people before the winter… well, the winter freeze has begun to start, but before it really gets worse.”
Schumer called on House Republicans, including North Country Representative Elise Stefanik, to work together to block the tariffs on Canada. The Senate has already passed a bipartisan resolution to block the tariffs. He said he’s hopeful that House Republicans will follow suit.