ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Senator Chuck Schumer and several Capital Region business owners and leaders spoke out against President Trump’s tariffs at a press conference on Monday. The Senate minority leader also announced that he plans to force a vote to end the tariffs once the Senate returns from recess.

At the conference, which was located at Yono’s Restaurant in Albany, Schumer was joined by the owner of Yono’s, the president and CEO of Latham Pool, the president of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce and other local business leaders. The senator began with stating that the administration’s tenuous trade relations with China, Canada and other countries put thousands of Capital Region jobs at risk. The senator also emphasized the possibility of increased costs for New Yorkers.

“Albany and the Capital Region are at the frontlines of Trump’s destructive tariff war,” Schumer said on Monday. “Let’s be clear: these tariffs are a tax increase on Upstate NY.”

The officials also stressed the impact of Trump’s tariffs on the area’s restaurants and small businesses, especially those that have not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They can’t afford to eat price increases when Trump slaps them with tariffs and neither can their customers,” Schumer said. “Small businesses and manufacturers have already seen costs skyrocket, and some are being hit with a double whammy as tourism and business from Canada dries up from Trump’s actions. No small business or restaurant in Upstate NY or anywhere in America can operate with this kind of uncertainty.”

The senator used Yono’s Restaurant and Latham Pool as local examples of the impact of the Trump administration’s tariffs on foreign food, beverages and other goods like aluminum and steel. Latham Pool, he said, estimates that 15% to 20% of their materials are sourced overseas and will be affected by the tariffs. Additionally, the products they sell in Canada have reportedly been disadvantaged due to the Canada’s reciprocal tariff.

Yono’s Restaurant, which features many Indonesian flavors, relies on spices and fruits that are not typically produced within the U.S. Due to the enacted tariffs, the restaurant, which often changes their menu seasonally, is uncertain on how much each ingredient will cost or which they will be able to keep a consistent supply of.

“Here at Yono’s we support an immense amount of USA grown meats, vegetables, cheeses, beer, spirits and wine. However, our guests appreciate a broad amount of options,” said Yono’s Restaurant Owner Dominick Purnomo. “We use coconut milk, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, palm sugar, chilies, galangal and pandan. These items are not able to be grown in the USA, let alone in the amounts we need.”

Stating “enough is enough,” Schumer said that, when the Senate returns from its current two-week recess, he will force a vote to reverse the new taxes on 10% of all imported goods as well as the possible additional tariffs of up to 49%. Earlier in April, the Senate had passed a bipartisan resolution to end tariffs on Canada.

“I am all for addressing trade imbalances — I have always been a China hawk and have long fought against unfair trade practices, but these sweeping, ill-conceived tariffs are creating chaos and undermining those goals,” Schumer said. “No matter which way you slice it, costs are going to skyrocket for our local restaurants and consumers. If you’re in Upstate New York, you’ll feel it first, and worse than just about anywhere in the country.”

The Senate will also vote on a bipartisan resolution that would terminate the emergency authorization of his global tariffs. If enacted, the tariffs would be rescinded.

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