Schumer in Watertown urges House to pass bill that would end trade war with Canada

From a story by Jonathon Wheeler in the Watertown Times, November 17, 2025.

"During a press conference inside 1812 on the River, Sen. Charles E. 'Chuck' Schumer demanded House Speaker Mike Johnson bring a bipartisan bill passed by the Senate to the House floor, which could end the trade war with Canada.

'I’m here in Watertown to say, enough is enough,' Schumer, the Senate minority leader, said. 'We must end this destructive trade war with Canada. It’s crushing the north country’s economy…I’m here today calling on our New York House of Representative Republicans, including Rep. (Elise) Stefanik, to work to get rid of those tariffs. The Senate passed the bill, now the House should pass the bill.'

Sen. Charles E. Schumer speaks in Watertown Monday urging the House of Representatives to take up a bill that could end President Donald J. Trump's tariffs. Jonathon Wheeler/Watertown Daily Times

All Senate Democrats voted in favor of the bill to end the trade war and three Republicans, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Arkansas, and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine joined Democrats and passed the bill.

Schumer said that the tariffs are hitting the north country hard.

'Trump’s tariffs are a tax hike on north country families and small businesses, plain and simple. Small businesses from Watertown to Plattsburgh are seeing costs go up and vital tourism plummet from Canada because of Trump’s reckless trade policy. Families are paying more at the grocery store, over $4,000 more every year because of Trump’s price-spiking tariff temper tantrums,' Schumer said.

Schumer spotlighted some businesses that have been hit hard by the tariffs, including 1812 Brewing Company in Watertown. Schumer said the company’s craft beer has been taken off shelves in Ontario in response to tariffs. Schumer said that took 10-15% of the company’s total business overnight and decreased sales by at least $100,000 in 2025.

'To make matters worse, the strain placed on our relationship with Canada has substantially decreased tourism and cross-border traffic, causing a 5-10% decrease in business at our restaurants on the Black River and Lake Ontario,' Thomas W. Scozzafava, chair and CEO of 1812 Brewing Company, said in a news release. 'I hope that those deciding these policies — on both sides of the aisle — understand the true human impact of sudden and dramatic changes to the parameters of trade with our Canadian partners. I thank Senator Schumer for coming to our community to push for bipartisan legislation to roll back the tariffs on Canada harming small businesses like 1812, and for always fighting to protect New York State’s craft breweries.'

Border crossings this year across the state went down by 1,722,924 during the summer tourism season, according to Schumer’s office.

Vernon D. 'Sam' Burns, board chair for the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, said that total revenue is down $841,000 and could increase to more than $1 million by the end of the year.

'When tariffs go up, traffic goes down,' he said. 'Sen. Schumer, we need your help.'

Burns said that he has never seen Canadians as mad as they are now.

'This is the maddest I’ve seen them, ever,' he said.

Apothecary Chocolates in Colton permanently closed because of the cost of tariffs, the business wrote in a Facebook post.

'I was already struggling with sourcing issues related to ingredients. Still, after August 1st, tariffs went into effect, making it impossible to make a reasonably priced chocolate bar. My supplier's price skyrocketed 65%. I knew it would be unfair and unreasonable to put that on wholesalers and retailers,' the business said.

Shelby Connelly, owner of Apothecary Chocolates, said in a news release that closing the business was 'heartbreaking.'

'I poured my effort, creativity, and heart into this work, and it is painful to lose something that meant so much to my community and to my livelihood. I hope that sharing my experience will highlight the very real struggles that small rural businesses are facing. We are the backbone of our communities, and when we can no longer withstand the pressures placed upon us, the entire region feels the loss,' she said.

Ginger Storey-Welch, co-founder of North Country Neighbors for Civic Engagement, said the organization penned a letter that was published in north country newspapers to Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, describing impacts of the tariffs and demanded action. She said they sent copies to Stefanik, and state Sens. Daniel G. Stec and Joseph A. Griffo asking for a response, which they have not gotten.

'I would’ve expected them to have responded by now if they were going to and I’m very disappointed that they haven’t,' Storey-Welch said.

MonthlyBoxer works with small brands from the U.S. and Canada providing shipping and logistics services to e-commerce companies. It is owned by Sackets Harbor Mayor Alex Morgia.

Morgia said that the uncertainty around tariffs can 'kill small businesses' because they don’t know what the tariffs will be when the product arrives in America.

'That uncertainty is the real killer. It shows up immediately in our warehouse in Watertown and it affects every part of the economy in upstate New York,' he said.

Schumer said his message is that they should get the same bill passed in the House that the Senate passed in October."