WNY residents concerned about how tariffs may affect prices

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Several key products everyone buys on a daily basis — like food, fuel and clothes — all come from Canada, Mexico and China. All of those items may be affected by President Donald Trump’s order to impose tariffs on imports from all three of those countries.

Western New Yorkers and Canadians shared concerns about the tariffs in Niagara Falls on Sunday, one day after Trump’s order.

“It hurts the little guy when you’re trying to buy something,” said Buffalo resident and Army veteran Bo Crymes. “The big guys, they’ll spend money, it doesn’t mean anything.”

On Sunday, Western New Yorkers were most concerned about the possibility of higher gas and grocery prices.

According to The Associated Press, Canada is America’s biggest foreign supplier of crude oil. Last year, Canada shipped the U.S. over $90 billion worth of crude oil, and Mexico shipped the U.S. over $11 billion worth of crude oil. Tariffs could bring an increase of 30-70 cents per gallon.

“We were promised that things are going to get better,” said Ahmad Willson, “but how many years are we going to see this change in … 10, 11? And in the meantime, it’s hurting the citizens.”

We spoke with Canadian neighbors at the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls, who on Sunday were buying items that could be affected, like electronics, clothes and toys.

According to U.S. Commerce Department data, the U.S. imported more than $32 billion in toys, games and sporting goods from China, along with $7.9 billion in footwear last year.

Canadian customers said prices on these goods are already high, so the possibility of prices rising higher is disheartening.

“We used to buy so many things at malls like this, but right now we’re thrifting a lot of clothes, a lot of toys, because prices on anything outside of that are just ridiculous,” said Ontario native Andrew Baxster.

Mexican and Canadian-made products fill our grocery stores. Mexico is the largest supplier of vegetables and fruit in the United States. Canada is the leading exporter of grain, meats and poultry.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices are up 28% over the last five years — and that number may now increase.

“Myself and my husband (are) working full-time jobs. There’s no way that a normal, regular family can afford that kind of stuff,” said Buffalo native Alexis Russel. “How is anybody able to afford anything? We’re all going to go broke by the end of the week.”

It’s a waiting game at this point to see what these tariffs will bring, but Western New Yorkers say they are concerned.

“Back in the 60s we had to start doing good trade because the United States was all by itself, all alone, and it started hurting,” said Crymes. “They realize if you don’t have good trade, you have nothing.”

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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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