Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) didn't mince words when he took aim at President Donald Trump's trade actions against Canada. In a post on X Monday, Schumer described the approach as "economic warfare against one of our closest allies," warning that the tariffs could hit American families and manufacturers hard.
Schumer specifically called out states with deep economic ties to Canada—New York, Ohio, Michigan, Maine, and others—where the trade measures could hurt. Then he threw down the gauntlet to Republican lawmakers from those states: "Will the Republicans from those states join us to stop this insanity?" He added, "Or will their loyalty to Donald Trump and his personal grievances outweigh their willingness to bring down costs for the people who elected them?"
The criticism isn't just coming from Schumer. Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.) stressed that Canada is one of Illinois' largest trading partners and made it clear he intends to keep it that way. "Donald Trump may not care about our farmers and families, but we do," Pritzker posted.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) warned that tariffs on cars, clothing, and agricultural products could raise costs for Americans. He noted that the courts had already struck down Trump's sweeping tariffs on Canada, but the president is "back with a new tax on everything from cars to clothes to agriculture products."
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) took aim at the 50% tariffs specifically, warning they could raise prices and trigger retaliation that would hurt Minnesota farmers, businesses, and workers. Klobuchar, who chairs the bipartisan Canadian/American group in the Senate, said she works with Canadian counterparts regularly and that "we have always found a way to work out trade because it hugely benefits both countries."
Economist Peter Schiff also chimed in, warning that 50% tariffs on Canadian goods could raise costs for American consumers and worsen the cost-of-living crisis.
