Shaheen, Ayotte express concerns over potential harm of tariffs on Canada

CONCORD, N.H. — An agreement reached Monday to pause tariffs on Canada for 30 days buys time to negotiate, but there's bipartisan agreement in New Hampshire that if they're eventually implemented, the tariffs could harm the state's economy.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, took a hard line against President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs, saying that even though they haven't taken effect, they're already causing uncertainty for Granite State businesses like C&J Bus Lines.

"He's just ordered seven buses that are being made in Quebec. The cost of those is going up significantly. The cost of his fuel is going up," Shaheen said. "Unfortunately for small businesses, they're going to have to pass along a lot of those costs to consumers. He's going to spend over $1 million more this year because of those costs."

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte said she's also worried about the potential impact of adding a 25% tax on trade with Canada. New Hampshire exported $1.4 billion in goods across the northern border in 2023.

"I've heard those concerns from New Hampshire businesses," Ayotte said. "At the same time, I appreciate that President Trump wants to get the fentanyl poison off our streets. That's really important, and I share that concern. But we need to make sure that's done without hurting our prices here in New Hampshire and our New Hampshire businesses."

The Trump White House said the issue is about more than trade.

"The president is making it very clear to both Canada and Mexico that the United States is no longer going to be a dumping ground for illegal deadly drugs and illegal human beings," said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.

With 30 more days to negotiate, a lot of New Hampshire businesses that export and import will be watching and waiting to see what unfolds.