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Tourism

Schumer Slams Trump's Tariff War with Canada, Highlighting Devastating Impact on Upstate NY's Tourism Industry

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

New data reveals that Canadian border crossings have plummeted by nearly 500,000 in July 2025 compared to the same month last year, a 22% decrease, with over 2 million fewer travelers crossing the Upstate NY-Canada border since Trump took office. This trend follows a months-long decline in Canadian border crossings, with 2,038,465 fewer visitors across the Upstate NY-Canada border compared to last year. Senator Chuck Schumer has vowed to force a vote when the Senate returns to end Trump's ill-conceived trade war with Canada, which is killing the summer tourism economy, threatening thousands of jobs and Main Streets across Upstate New York. The World Travel and Tourism Council has warned that the United States is the only country where international tourism is expected to drop, with a projected $12.5 billion decrease.

Key Takeaways:

  • New data from CBP shows a 22% decrease in Canadian border crossings in July 2025, with nearly 500,000 fewer travelers crossing the Upstate NY-Canada border compared to July 2024.
  • Since Trump took office, there have been 2 million fewer travelers across the Upstate NY-Canada border, with a trend of Canadian border crossings plummeting since the start of the trade war.
  • Upstate NY's Main Streets are paying the price for Trump's tariffs, with higher costs and fewer tourists, threatening thousands of jobs and local businesses.
  • The United States is the only country out of 184 studied where international tourism is expected to drop, with a projected $12.5 billion decrease, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
  • Canadian bookings are down more than 20% compared to last year, and the US is welcoming fewer Canadian visitors, with Americans already seeing higher prices and cost increases around 2.7% compared to the previous year.
  • Schumer announces he will use a special fast-track process to force a vote when the Senate returns to end Trump's destructive trade war with Canada, and pushes for tariff exemptions for small businesses.
  • The senator argues that NY House Republicans must stand up for Upstate NY businesses and working families footing the bill for Trump's tariff tax by taking up the resolution to end tariffs on Canada.

Statistics:

  • 1.7 million border crossings in July 2025, compared to 2.2 million during the same month in 2024 (a 497,987 decrease)
  • 2,038,465 fewer visitors across the Upstate NY-Canada border since Trump took office
  • 20% decrease in Canadian bookings compared to last year
  • $12.5 billion projected decrease in international tourism in the US
  • 2.7% cost increase for Americans in June 2025 compared to the previous year
  • 2 million fewer travelers across the Upstate NY-Canada border since Trump took office

Sources:

  • Schumer, C. E. (2025). Press Release: Schumer Slams Trump's Tariff War with Canada, Highlighting Devastating Impact on Upstate NY's Tourism Industry.
  • CBP (Customs and Border Protection). (2025). July 2025 Border Crossings.
  • World Travel and Tourism Council. (2025). International Tourism Trends.
  • Pew Research Study (2025). Canadians' Opinions of Americans and Trump at Historic Lows.
  • Budget Lab at Yale. (2025). Analysis of Trump's Tariffs.

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