North Country Leaders Warn Tariffs Bring Uncertainty for Businesses and Tourism

Cross-border travel and trade with Canada has declined, impacting local industries and employment.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:49pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract geometric illustration in muted tones of blue, grey, and green, using clean lines and bold shapes to conceptually represent the economic uncertainty and decline in cross-border travel and trade between the U.S. and Canada.Uncertainty over tariffs and trade policies casts a shadow over the North Country's economy, which relies heavily on cross-border business and tourism with Canada.Plattsburgh Today

Local leaders in New York's North Country region are raising concerns about the ongoing impact of tariffs, which have led to a significant decline in travel from Canada and left businesses in limbo due to economic uncertainty. The New York State Comptroller's office reported a 21% drop in Canadian visitors in 2025, dealing a blow to industries that rely on cross-border business and tourism.

Why it matters

The North Country's economy is heavily dependent on trade and travel with Canada, its largest trading partner. The drop in Canadian visitors has had a ripple effect, impacting employment, sales, and investment across a range of local industries like hospitality, retail, and manufacturing.

The details

According to Maria Doulis, a budget and policy analyst at the Deputy Comptroller's office, the 21% decline in Canadian travel to New York in 2025 resulted in a decrease of nearly 3.6 million visitors. This has had "significant economic impacts" as these visitors spend money supporting local businesses and employment. Garry Douglas, the president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, said the uncertainty created by the tariffs has made it difficult for businesses to make decisions about investments and expansions, with at least three international manufacturers in the Plattsburgh area delaying planned expansions.

  • In 2025, travel from Canada to New York fell by more than 21%.

The players

Maria Doulis

A budget and policy analyst at the New York State Deputy Comptroller's office.

Garry Douglas

The president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty for New York businesses to be able to plan for the coming calendar year that we're already in.”

— Maria Doulis, Budget and policy analyst, New York State Deputy Comptroller's office

“That tells the story of uncertainty. Uncertainty is the biggest impact around tariffs, particularly in the U.S.-Canadian dimension. Business can't make decisions in the face of uncertainty.”

— Garry Douglas, President, North Country Chamber of Commerce

The takeaway

The ongoing tariff disputes between the U.S. and Canada have created significant economic uncertainty for businesses and communities in New York's North Country region, which relies heavily on cross-border trade and tourism. Local leaders are calling for a resolution to the trade tensions in order to provide stability and allow businesses to plan for the future.