Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined the owners of Talking Cursive Brewing Company and local elected officials to denounce President Trump’s tariffs, which she said are wreaking havoc on small businesses this holiday season.
Earlier this week, Gillibrand called on President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to take immediate action to address the tariffs’ devastating impact on small businesses and consumers. She is urging the administration to suspend the global tariffs to provide meaningful relief to small businesses, protect consumers, and ensure American families are not hit with higher prices or product shortages during the busy holiday period.
“This holiday season, President Trump is hurting New Yorkers with anti-American tariffs that are raising costs and shutting down small businesses,” said Senator Gillibrand.“Small businesses are a major economic driver in New York, employing almost half the state’s workforce. Breweries like Talking Cursive are feeling the pressure from the president’s tariffs, with rising aluminum prices making the canning process prohibitively expensive for them and for many of the more than 400 breweries across New York State. I urge President Trump and Secretary Lutnick to immediately suspend these tariffs and provide meaningful relief to the millions of Americans experiencing higher prices and product shortages during this time of year.”
“Tariffs are hitting small businesses and manufacturers like ours hard. Whether on aluminum, malts, or hops, tariffs are impacting us across the board, not only raising costs, but shrinking markets,” said Andrew Brooks, Co-Owner of Talking Cursive Brewing Company. “We’re just asking for a common-sense solution; repeal these tariffs so small businesses like ours can keep brewing, keep manufacturing, and keep contributing to our communities and the local economy. Thank you, Senator Gillibrand, for standing with small businesses and manufacturers in opposing these tariffs.”
“Tariffs are squeezing small businesses, which are struggling with rising inventory costs,”said State Senator Rachel May. “Thank you, Senator Gillibrand, for visiting Syracuse to highlight how these tariffs are hurting small business owners in Central New York and for advocating to end these tariffs immediately.”
“Small businesses like Talking Cursive are at the heart of New York’s economy and our communities. They take risks, create jobs, and bring life to our neighborhoods — and they deserve every bit of support we can give them,” said State Senator Chris Ryan. “But today, too many small businesses are seeing their fiscal bottom line squeezed by rising costs driven in part by the Trump administration’s tariffs, putting added pressure on entrepreneurs, workers, and everyday consumers. I’m grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her continued advocacy to ensure local businesses have the stability and resources they need to plan, grow, and succeed. When we stand up for our small businesses, we’re standing up for the people and families who make New York strong.”
“Small and local businesses are the backbones of our communities,” said Assemblyman William Magnarelli. “I support the measures to remove these tariffs, and thank Senator Gillibrand for her efforts on this.”
“Tariffs are driving up costs for City operations, squeezing small businesses, and exacerbating our housing crisis. These irrational Trump administration choices must be combatted with a meaningful affordability agenda that brings down the cost of doing business for everyone,” said Syracuse city auditor Alex Marion.
The tariffs recently imposed by the Trump administration include a baseline 10% import tax on goods from dozens of countries, plus the European Union, with significantly steeper rates for many Canadian imports at 35%. These tariffs are creating major cost uncertainty for New York businesses. According to the New York State Tariff Disruptions Report, consumers in the state are facing an estimated 21% tax on imported goods, amounting to roughly $4,200 in increased costs per household annually.
Gillibrand has opposed the president’s tariffs since the start of his administration, arguing that they increase costs for consumers and small businesses. Earlier this year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump’s tariff tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. She also sent a legal brief with 206 members of Congress emphasizing to the Supreme Court that these tariffs are illegal.
Talking Cursive Brewing Company — a woman- and veteran-owned business — is among those hurt by higher aluminum prices as a result of tariffs. Small businesses make up 99.8% of all businesses in New York and employ nearly 4 million people. Due to the fact that they often operate on tight margins and have limited flexibility in their supply chains, small businesses are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of tariffs.
The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter to President Trump and Secretary Lutnick can be found here.
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