Latest news with #NorthCountryChamberof
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Officials welcome tariff pause
PLATTSBURGH — Area officials are hoping the 90-day pause on tariffs by the Trump administration will clear the way for a more stable economic future. North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said he is welcoming a 90-day pause in the previously announced wide range of 'reciprocal tariffs' around the world with a commitment to negotiations with friendly countries. 'We especially welcome Canadian Prime Minister (Mark) Carney's commitment of Canada to immediate negotiations after the April 28th federal election, aiming for 'a new economic and security relationship' with the U.S.,' Douglas said. 'We have always believed that getting the negotiators around the table sooner rather than later has the best chances of fashioning a way forward. and USMCA (United States Mexico Canada Agreement) is already due for review in 2026 so bring it forward.' A baseline 10% tariff is being continued with many countries during the 90-day pause while recent tariffs on Canada continue for now, particularly on steel, aluminum and now automobiles, with most USMCA compliant goods still eligible for duty free status. Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman said he hopes to see continued progress on the tariff situation. 'Since the start of these tariff challenges, I have worked diligently with our partners across the border to advocate for common sense and mutual respect. While the 90-day pause is a step in the right direction, more work remains to be done, and those 90 days will pass quickly,' Cashman said. 'We hope this period leads to substantial progress and that we don't see further unnecessary shifts that undermine the relationship. Our community continues to welcome our Canadian friends, and we remain committed to supporting efforts that strengthen our shared economic and social ties and foster a lasting, cooperative future.' In a passionate and lengthy speech on the floor of the Senate, New York Sen. Charles Schumer, denounced what he called Donald Trump's nonsensical tariffs that have put the U.S. economy in danger of a recession, wreaked havoc on the stock market, and risked draining hard-earned retirement savings while the president tweets trading advice to his followers. Schumer said in part, that the president's approach to tariffs has been reckless and troublesome. 'The past eight days have been an absolute embarrassment for President Trump and for everyone who truly cares about this country,' Schumer said. 'During these eight days, the world saw the President of the United States reveal his total lack of understanding of international trade, macro and micro economics, and foreign relations. The world saw the American President issue a tariff ultimatum so ill-conceived and so flawed that it was mocked from here to the Heard and McDonald Islands. This whole episode is so ridiculous that even the writers of Veep and the House of Cards would have shredded their drafts.' Schumer said Trump's handling of the tariff situation has had real effects, lasting effects, on real people. 'Donald Trump's tariff fiasco caused real damage to the confidence other nations have in America. It had real effects on the uncertainty we feel every day that Donald Trump sits in the oval office. It had real effects on people's retirements,' Schumer said.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. tourism is hurting amid Canadian anger at Trump
Canadian anger with President Trump's tariff and immigration policies appears to be causing a sharp decline in tourism from Canada, which is hurting businesses in the United States. Roughly 4 million fewer Canadians are expected to visit the U.S. this year compared with 2024, according to an estimate by the travel analytics firm Tourism Economics, the Washington Post reported. That could result in a revenue loss of $4.3 billion, but the decline in visitors is already having an impact. 'It's terrible,' Richard Clavet, the owner of Richard's Motel in Hollywood, Fla., which caters to Canadian visitors. 'People are canceling reservations left and right. They're not booking. We should be super, super busy right now and we're just basically seeking American business,' Clavet told the Miami Herald. In addition to Trump's 25% tariffs on some Canadian products, Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term that requires Canadian citizens to register with his government when traveling to the U.S. for longer than 30 days. That, plus Trump's repeated assertion that he hopes to make Canada the 51st U.S. state, has not sat well. 'For the nicest people on the planet, who are Canadians, the language is strong,' Stacy Ritter, head of Visit Lauderdale in South Florida, told the Post. 'There's a lot of anger out there.' More Canadians visit the United States each year than residents of any other country. Nearly 3.3 million Canadians traveled to Florida in 2024, according to Visit Florida. But many of those visitors stay longer than 30 days, with almost 60,000 Canadians residing in the state for some portion of the year, WFLA News reported. 'It's not only having a negative impact on the tourism market, but business as a whole,' Cole Peacock, the owner of a business in Ft. Myers, Fla., called Seed and Bean Market, told WBBH News. 'You need those extra visits to kick that profit margins to another level.' In apparent response to what are seen as the Trump administration's hostile actions against one of its closest allies, automobile travel in February from Canada to the U.S. fell by 17.5% compared to last year, data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows. That has hurt local border economies of towns like Plattsburgh, N.Y., where Canadian customers account for a significant portion of revenue. This week, the North Country Chamber of Commerce, which includes Plattsburgh, released a report showing that 66% of retailers in the town had 'experienced a slight to significant decrease in Canadian bookings for 2025.' "This is profoundly sad to everyone in the North Country who rightly values the historic and special people-to-people relationship with our friends and neighbors,' Garry Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement about the implementation of tariffs and the resulting Canadian travel boycott to the U.S. Canadians have also canceled millions of plane reservations to the U.S., and Canadian airlines have cut back or canceled flight routes to snowbird destinations like Las Vegas and Palm Springs, Calif., the Street reported. 'Betrayed, frustrated and angry are the three words that keep coming up,' Ron Stader, a Canadian from Calgary who winters at a home he bought in La Quinta, Calif., told the Desert Sun. 'And obviously how could that not be expected when something like this happens with each country's number one trading partner and probably the two best allies in the world? It feels like a sucker punch.' Like many Canadians who own properties in the U.S., Stader is now looking to sell. That's true across California's Coachella Valley, which includes Palm Springs. 'Half of them are staying and half of them said they're going to sell and they're not going to come back, that they're going to buy homes in Europe or someplace else,' Palm Desert realtor Kathleen Sunshine O'Brien told NBC Palm Springs about the Canadians who own between 5,000 and 6,000 properties in the Coachella Valley. That sudden exodus of Canadians and a lack of buyers to replace them could have a profound effect on the market. 'We have 4,000 homes on the market in the Coachella Valley, and if half of the Canadians sell, that's another 2,500, which is going to make the days on market even longer than they are now and could force prices down,' O'Brien said.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill Meyers of Casella named Irishman of the Year
PLATTSBURGH — Bill Meyers can usually sniff out a surprise, he said, but being named Irish Person of the Year was one he did not smell coming. 'It was completely out of the blue,' Meyers said Friday morning after receiving the award at the North Country Chamber of Commerce's 66th annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast. 'This one got me.' Meyers is the market area manager for Casella Waste Systems. He is also involved in numerous community organizations in helping people gain assistance in their lives. Meyers is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., and moved to the North Country in 2003. 'I'm honored, humbled, thankful,' he told the crowd. 'I think everybody realizes the great community we have and without you guys there's no me. There's been so many people who have mentored and invested in me and all I've tried to do is give it all back.' Meyers' unwavering commitment to community service and leadership made him a standout choice, the chamber said. A devoted husband to Wendy and father to Connor and Hannah, Meyers values family deeply. His impact extends far beyond his professional role — he has been an active member of the Chamber for years, serving as Board Chair in 2021, guiding the organization and its members through the challenges of the pandemic. He is known for fostering strong relationships, mentoring young professionals, and sharing insights on teamwork and employee development. His leadership extends into the community, where he is a passionate supporter of SUNY Plattsburgh's athletic programs, a sponsor and coach for the Mariners, and a dedicated volunteer across numerous organizations. He's no stranger to winning awards either. Meyers is an active member of United Way, where he was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 2024, and contributes his time and efforts to Adirondack Health, the CVPH Foundation, Elmore SPCA and various youth athletic programs. His generosity, dedication, and community spirit make him a most deserving recipient of the 2025 Irish Person of the Year Award. "Bill Meyers is a perfect honoree," Garry Douglas, Chamber President said. 'He's unassuming and truly committed to our area, its people, and so many good causes. His community service includes leading the Chamber during the pandemic, providing steady support for our team as we looked to help our business community through uncharted waters. Congratulations to Bill on this highly deserved recognition and our thanks for all that he has done and continues to do.' Meyers was involved in one of the entertaining videos at Friday's breakfast where host Matt Boire spends a day working at Casella and getting to see the day-to-day operations. Meyers said it was a fun experience getting to showcase Casella to the sold-out event. 'Casella has provided me with so many different avenues to be within the community,' he said. 'It's been an intricate part of who I am. For 22 years, I've been a part of Casella in the North Country. It's opened up so many doors, certainly business wise, but also introductions to so many great community members, and it's only allowed me to grow and prosper from that.' Meyers said it's an honor to join the exclusive list of past winners, most recently Bob Frenyea in 2024. 'You look in this room of so many people that are part of the community and what they've done for the community, and you try to picture yourself among them and it's tough to (do that),' he said. 'There are just so many people that do so many great things, including all the past winners.'
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Country Tourism Could Pay The Price For Tariffs
PLATTSBURGH, NY – (WVNY/WFFF) – Much of the region relies heavily on tourism, specifically from Canadian visitors. Those visitors are now being forced to pay even more for the goods they buy here. That could put a real strain on the local economy. As a border community, the North Country is feeling the pain of the tariffs President Trump has imposed on Canadian goods. Plattsburgh Town Supervisor, Michael Cashman is concerned. 'Tourism is going to take a hit. We're already starting to hear that Canadians are pulling back from their plans to come down to the United States for a trip, said Cashman. Kristy Kennedy with the North Country Chamber of Commerce, spent some time this week in Montreal, meeting with tour operators and travel agents. She said talks went well and according to her sources, Canadian travelers are not particularly avoiding the US because of the tariffs, There just seems to be fear as far as what to expect when traveling. 'They are seeing their tours declining, and participation declining. There is a bit of fear with travel,' Kennedy said. 'Yes Tariffs are on imports, but recently the 25 percent surcharge on any items that our Canadian visitors are bringing back across causes some reservation and causes them to kind of think twice. With summer just around the corner, a big concern is a possible decline in reservations at places such as campgrounds and marinas. Kennedy said it's still too early in the season to measure any sort of decrease in reservations in the North Country. 'It's a little bit of a waiting game. Are things going to change? Are they going to stay the same? What's happening? It does feel very much like there's a pause in a way… what's coming in the next month,' said Kennedy. Air traffic in Plattsburgh appears to be steady. 'Right now we're not seeing any changes in our airport traffic, steady flow in, steady flow out. This is usually the time of year when our Canadian friends are coming home, so we are not experiencing any difficulty,' said Molly Ryan, Director, Clinton County Economic Development More tourist information will become available once the border releases the car count from February and March. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lacolle border crossing project underway
PLATTSBURGH — A major renovation project at the St. Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing into Canada is expected to make life easier and better for cross-border travelers. 'While crossings are always dependent on staffing, volume and security situations, new state-of-the-art booths and a reconfiguration to remove pedestrians from the line of traffic can hopefully enhance the movement of cars' North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said. 'Also, there should be more efficiency in handling secondary processing for those needing to stop and go in, and the processing of bus passengers will be substantially enhanced.' Douglas was referring to the full start of construction on major upgrades and changes by the Canadian Government at the St-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing which is the Canadian side of the Champlain crossing on I-87/Autoroute 15. 'As a major stakeholder representative for this border crossing, we welcome the full start of construction on a project that we and our Quebec partners have been supporting for several years,' Douglas said. 'It is another major step toward the Port of Excellence vision we laid out 25 years ago, seeking greatly improved border facilities at all North Country crossings, starting with $170 million for the new Champlain Port of Entry which began construction in 2005.' The first stage of the Lacolle vision included a major new truck crossing and commercial processing facility that opened several years ago. The new three-year project will demolish outdated buildings at the car crossing, creating a reconfigured complex including all new booths and enhanced processing for buses. Construction will be staged to minimize the impact on continued operations including flow, the chamber said. 'We have been pleased to provide stakeholder input during the design process and will be taking part in a border crossings meeting in Quebec City in May,' Douglas said. The chamber has also advocated for a planned new Rouses Point border crossing facility, including proper facilities for processing incoming Amtrak trains, with construction expected to begin in late spring or early summer. 'With all of the current atmosphere around potential tariffs, it's good to have positive news about such border investments designed to enhance travel and commerce north and south,' Douglas said.
