Schumer slams Trump tariffs on eve of 'Liberation Day'

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — April 2 is President Donald Trump's proposed "Liberation Day," when tariffs take effect. According to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who represents New York, the proposed tariffs on Canada will raise costs by up to $6,500 a year for families.

"It's a gut punch to New York's economy that could devastate our families and small businesses in ways we haven't seen since the height of the pandemic," Schumer said. "Thousands of Upstate New York jobs are in the crosshairs with these tariffs. Lost jobs, increased prices. That's the Trump tariff agenda."

Schumer shared data showing that the tariffs endanger nearly 160,000 jobs while costing about $7 billion to the region annually. He added that the tariffs will hit families with higher prices on gas, groceries, and cars while hurting small businesses. Take a look at his numbers, which his office said came from a New York Times analysis:

County	Number of jobs impacted by tariffs
Monroe	21,900
Erie	20,300
Onondaga	10,000
Westchester	8,300
Orange	6,300
Oneida	6,200
Chautauqua	4,700
Albany	4,400
Dutchess	4,300
Rockland	4,100
Broome	3,800
Niagara	3,500
Ontario	3,100
Saratoga	3,100
Chemung	2,500
Schenectady	2,400
Ulster	2,400
Wayne	2,400
Chenango	2,200
St Lawrence	2,000
Steuben	2,000
Sullivan	2,000
Oswego	1,900
Delaware	1,700
Cattaraugus	1,600
Cayuga	1,600
Genesee	1,600
Madison	1,600
Tioga	1,500
Rensselaer	1,300
Allegany	1,100
Clinton	1,100
Jefferson	1,100
Washington	1,100
Columbia	1,000
Cortland	1,000
Montgomery	2,000
Otsego	1,000
Fulton	900
Herkimer	900
Lewis	900
Livingston	900
Tompkins	900
Wyoming	900
Yates	900
Orleans	800
Seneca	700
Essex	600
Schuyler	600
Warren	600
Putnam	400
Franklin	300
Schoharie	300
Greene	200
Hamilton	100

According to Schumer, there could be some tariffs that benefit New Yorkers, but he thinks the federal government should act with more subtlety and precision to identify such benefits, rather than enact large-scale, blanket tariffs. He also said Trump should focus on China rather than Canada.

Schumer detailed the new tariffs on goods from Canada, New York’s top trading partner, at a press conference on April 1. Last year, New York imported over $20 billion in Canadian goods and exported around $17.4 billion. Schumer said that 70% of those imports—like aluminum, lumber, and cement—support the manufacture of American products.

He said the tariffs will hit upstate New York hardest because of close ties to Canada. The likeliest cost increases would be for gas, groceries, cars, and energy. Noting that the tariffs would have to be paid for by consumers and small businesses, Schumer said the tariffs have already caused market drops and hurt retirements. Tourism has also suffered, he said, with a 23% drop in Canadian visitors in some areas, affecting local restaurants, hotels, and retail.

Schumer told New Yorkers to contact Republican representatives in the House to demand they oppose the tariffs and seek better trade deals. He said that the Senate will vote on a resolution to stop the tariffs later this week.