SCHUMER: AS SUMMER SIZZLES, UPSTATE NY TOURISM FIZZLES - NEW DATA SHOWS TRUMP’S TARIFF WAR SLAMS UPSTATE NY, WITH CANADIAN BORDER CROSSINGS PLUMMETING 400,000 LAST MONTH, A 25% DECREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR – THREATENING THOUSANDS OF JOBS, SMALL BUSINESSES & MAIN STREETS THAT RELY ON SUMMER TOURISM BOOST

With Summer Tourism Season Underway Across Upstate NY, New Data Shows Border Crossings Are Continuing To Plummet, Putting NY Main Streets At Risk, Jeopardizing Jobs & Restricting Summer Tourism Economy As A Result Of Trump’s Tariff War & Insulting Comments That Are Driving Away Canadian Visitors

As Border Crossings Fall Further Amid Tariff Chaos, Schumer Says NY House Republicans Must Stand Up For Upstate NY And Main Street Hotels, Restaurants & Shops Across NY That Rely On Canadian Tourists And Are Seeing Major Hits To Their Bottom Lines

Schumer: Upstate NY’s Main Streets Are Feeling The Heat Of Trump’s Damaging Tariff War 

With summer tourism season underway across Upstate NY, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer revealed new data showing how Trump’s reckless tariff war continues to plummet at border crossings at all major land ports of entry in New York. As Canadians cancel trips to the United States because of Trump’s mistreatment of our closest ally and trading partner, new data shows nearly 400,000 fewer travelers crossed the Upstate NY-Canadian border via land in May 2025 compared to May 2024 according to CBP, a whopping nearly 25% decrease, which Schumer said threatens our regions’ Main Street businesses and tourism economy that rely on a summer boost.

“As summer sizzles, Upstate NY tourism fizzles thanks to Trump’s reckless and damaging tariff war with Canada. Summer tourism season should be in full swing, but instead our small businesses and Main Streets are left sweating as reservations get cancelled & tourism from Canada continues to plummet,” said Senator Schumer. “This new data shows again how it is Upstate NY families paying the price for Trump’s tariff war and his insults hurled at our top-trading partner, Canada. From Buffalo to Watertown to Plattsburgh, our shops, hotels, restaurants, and thousands of good-paying jobs rely on summer tourism for success. NY House Republicans know Trump’s tariff war with Canada is hurting our communities, but even as the numbers show how badly this is hurting our businesses and jobs they refuse to act. 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.”

According to new data from CBP, Upstate NY & Canada saw approximately 1,144,524 border crossings in May, compared to 1,520,424 during the same month in 2024, a nearly 25% decrease across land (both road and bridge) crossings frequented by tourists. This is an even further from April 2025 which saw almost 290,000 fewer travelers, a nearly 22% decrease across ports of entry in NY.

A breakdown bridge-by-bridge from the Bridge and Tunnel Operators Association of May 2025 crossings shows just how steeply tourism is declining across all the major bridge ports of entry between Upstate NY and Canada:

Since taking office in January, 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 for the second month in a row shows Trump’s threats to annex Canada and tariff Canadian goods are directly impacting commerce between the two countries, including Canadian tourism across New York State.

Schumer said he is fighting to end this unnecessary, damaging trade war with Canada and protect tourism, small businesses, and local jobs. Earlier this year, the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution to end tariffs on Canada, and Schumer said this new shocking data shows the urgency for House Republicans to take up and pass it as well. Senate Democrats are also pushing for tariff exemptions for small businesses and putting an end to Trump’s across-the-board tariffs. Schumer said ending this costly trade war is key to protecting American families from price increases and job losses as a result of tariffs on Canada.

###