BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Gov. Kathy Hochul is speaking out against the tariffs imposed against Canada by the U.S. this week that put a 50% tax on a wide range of items, from wine to cement.
In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced hefty tariffs on $20 billion worth of American goods, including steel, dairy and farm equipment. Hochul said the trade war is hurting farmers in New York — specifically in the Western New York region.
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“As someone who grew up in Buffalo, I have a deep relationship with Canadians,” Hochul said at the New York State Fair on Wednesday. “They fill our stands. They come to our county fairs. They go to the Bills games. They go to the Bisons games. They go to Sabers games along the northern border.”
“They’re critical to the economy from Plattsburgh and beyond,” Hochul continued. “The automotive infrastructure connections we have, the manufacturing up there, the farms. I know how critically important our economies are intertwined.”
In a statement issued to WIVB News 4, a White House spokesperson said, “Canada was offered the most generous trade deal of any of America’s trading partners despite being overwhelmingly reliant on access to the American economy, which is over 12 times larger than Canada’s economy. Canada rejected that deal to demand continued one-sided access to the American market with no reciprocity. President Trump was given a resounding Election Day mandate to put American workers, farmers, and businesses first, and the Administration will continue to deliver while lowering costs for everyday families.”
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Gabriella Baiano has been a digital producer with WIVB since November 2025. View more of her work here.
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