Governor Kathy Hochul held a roundtable with business leaders and farmers from the Capital Region on March 9 to discuss the challenges they have faced over the past year due to tariff policies enacted by the Trump administration. Following a Supreme Court decision that ruled these tariffs unlawful, Hochul renewed her call for the federal government to return $13.5 billion in tariff payments collected from New Yorkers.
The issue is significant because many families, farmers, and small businesses in New York have experienced financial hardship as a result of these tariffs. Participants at the roundtable described how economic uncertainty has made it difficult for them to plan for their futures.
“The Trump administration’s chaotic tariff policies have put unnecessary and careless financial burdens on farmers, small businesses, and families across New York State,” Hochul said. “The federal government should be uplifting the people that they represent — not taxing them unlawfully and taking $13.5 billion from our hard workers.”
Roundtable participants included representatives from local farms, restaurants, chambers of commerce, and other businesses such as Nine Pin, Sunhee’s Farm & Kitchen, Soleno USA, Golden Harvest Farms & Harvest Spirits Distillery, GNH Lumber, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Rosenblum Companies, and Yono’s & dp An American Brasserie.
State Senator Patricia Fahy said: “While this President says that the affordability crisis is over, New York families paid more than $1,000 last year in tariff taxes and are expected to pay an additional $1,300 more this year. The affordability crisis is very real… Tariffs are taxes on the average American and businesses… Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, this administration is moving forward with even more tariff taxes… I applaud and support Governor Hochul’s push to provide tariff relief to our farmers and call on the federal government to return the billions of dollars in tariffs to New Yorkers and Americans.”
Assemblymember John T. McDonald III said: “Tariffs are a tax — plain and simple… There is a legal process for implementing tariffs… Unfortunately, that was not the case this past year… The Supreme Court spoke loudly and clearly on the illegal implementation of these tariffs… I will continue working to support policies that are fair.”
Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero added: “My constituents in the 109th Assembly District and families throughout the Capital Region have felt the economic strain caused by Trump’s absurd, illegal tariff policies… From farmers and small businesses to working families trying to make ends meet… we must pursue justice for New Yorkers. I thank Governor Hochul for amplifying the voices of impacted farmers and small business owners in the Capital Region with this roundtable.”
Hochul has also proposed $30 million in state-level relief as part of her 2026 State of the State address while continuing efforts at both state and federal levels for broader reimbursement.