Schumer Reveals: With Summer Season Officially Kicked Off, Trump’s Tariff War Slams Northern Border States & Local Economies – Traveler Crossings In Every Border State Have Plummeted, With Almost A Million Fewer Travelers Last Month, Threatening Local Jobs & Summer Tourism Economic Boom

New York, N.Y. – Today, with the arrival of summer tourism season, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) revealed that Trump’s tariffs are putting billions of tourism spending for America’s Main Streets at risk and jeopardizing thousands of jobs. Schumer revealed that Northern Border communities have seen almost a million less travelers this past month than over the same period in 2024. Leader Schumer called on Congressional Republicans to take up the Senate-passed resolution and end the trade war with Canada to protect small businesses and local jobs:

Today, Leader Schumer revealed that Trump’s trade war with Canada is causing border crossings to plunge in every Northern Border state with a drastic decline of nearly a million less crossings at land ports of entry this past month compared to the same time last year. In April 2024, there were 3,869,866 crossings between Canada and the United States, compared to the just 2,931,575 last month over the same time period, a whopping 24% decline. 

Schumer said the Northern Border is an economic engine not just for the many families that live there – but also for millions of Americans surrounding that either benefit from or contribute to the Northern Border’s position as a tourist hub for Canadians. Schumer called on Congressional Republicans that represent Northern Border communities to stand up for their communities, constituents, local economies and jobs, and small businesses that are being pummeled by Trump’s tariff tax repercussions, and take up the Senate-passed bipartisan resolution to end the trade war with Canada. 

“Burning bridges and ruining relationships with our closest ally and key trade partner, Canada, right when summer tourism season is arriving is about as destructive as it gets. Instead of lowering costs for families, Trump’s tariffs are raising prices and driving away Canadian tourists who spend billions ever year in our small businesses, hotels, restaurants and sustain thousands of local jobs,” said Leader Schumer. “This new data should be a blaring alarm bell for Congressional Republicans who have stayed silent as Trump’s trade war has wreaked havoc in their districts and as he makes absurd declarations on annexing our neighbor to the north. Republicans know deep down that Donald Trump’s tariffs are awful for their states. House Republicans need to pass the bipartisan resolution the Senate has already acted on to end Trump’s destructive trade war with Canada, helping to restore our cherished friendly relationship with our next-door neighbor and major economic partner.”

A breakdown of land crossings by travelers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows how much ports of entry crossings between America and Canada have decreased:

Canadians are the United States’ top international visitors, making 20.4 million visits, spending $20.5 billion, and supporting 140,000 American jobs. The U.S. Travel Association has warned that even a 10% reduction in travel from Canada could mean 2 million fewer visits, $2.1 billion in lost spending, and 14,000 job losses. Since taking office, President Trump has damaged the United States’ relationship with Canada by threatening to annex Canada and levying 25% tariffs on Canadian goods. Schumer said this new data on major reductions in border crossings shows Trump’s threats to annex Canada and tariff Canadian goods are directly impacting commerce between the two countries, including Canadian tourism across the U.S. 

Schumer said Senate Democrats are fighting to end this damaging trade war and protect tourism, small businesses, and local jobs. Earlier this year, the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution to end tariffs on Canada led by led by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), which Schumer is urging House Republicans to take up and pass the House to pass it as well. Senate Democrats are also pushing for tariff exemptions for small businesses led by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and putting an end to Trump’s across the board global tariffs led by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).

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