Auto crossings into the U.S. are down broadly at major bridges between Canada and Upstate New York, according to new data from U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer’s office.
Crossings at all of the major U.S. land ports of entry in Upstate New York were lower in April than they were a year earlier, according to Schumer’s data. The number of travelers crossing the border between Canada and Upstate New York fell by nearly 290,000 people, a drop of about 22%.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs and comments on Canada are to blame, said Schumer, New York’s senior Democratic senator and the Democratic Party leader in the Senate.
“Burning bridges and ruining relationships with our closest ally and key trading partner, Canada, right when summer tourism season is arriving, is about as destructive as it gets,” Schumer said in a news release. “Upstate NY is on the frontlines of Trump’s destructive tariff war, and this shocking new data shows our tourism economy is paying the price from Buffalo to Ogdensburg.”
Trump’s tariffs are increasing prices and keeping tourists away, Schumer said. The season ahead could be challenging for small businesses in the region if the trends continue, he added.
You can see details of the declines in bridge crossings in the two charts below. Click here if you can’t see the first one and here if you can’t see the second.
Since taking office in January, Trump has imposed an array of tariffs on multiple nations and a wide range of goods. The levies have hit major U.S. trading partners and allies like Canada.
The tariffs have sparked warnings of price hikes and product shortages and uncertainty for businesses that rely on cross-border trade.
Trump’s repeated comments about Canada becoming the 51st state have also angered many Canadians and contributed to the drop in tourism, officials have said.
Upstate New York tourism leaders previously warned of a drop in Canadian visits even before Schumer’s new data.
Trump has said his tariffs will ultimately lead to new investment and more jobs. He has said they’ll encourage companies to set up new operations in the U.S. to avoid the taxes.
Trump has also paused his steepest tariffs to give his administration time to negotiate trade deals.
Some of the initial tariffs sent stock markets tumbling and drove consumer confidence lower, although markets have recovered and confidence rose in May.
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