“Hurting Us Badly”: Sen. Peter Welch EXPLODES At Trade Rep Greer Over Trump’s Canada Tariffs

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Ambassador Greer, first of all, I want to say that your office has been responsive when we've had questions, and I quite appreciate that. But what I do want to take this opportunity to do is explain to you, whatever the intent of the tariffs are, it's really causing a lot of harm so far in Vermont, both the tariffs and the way in which they are variable and changing quite a bit. And I want to take the opportunity to tell you, because I know you're concerned about the well-being of small businesses. I know you're concerned about the well-being of everyday consumers. But the tariffs are really, really... Troublesome in Vermont. Number one, our tourism is down about 40%. A lot of that has to do with the rhetoric that the president has used, and I don't hold you responsible for that. But the 51st state, the governor of Canada, that rhetoric has really inhibited Canadians from coming down. Steve Wright, who's the head of Jay Peak, a really prominent resort in northern Canada, got a call where 100 people from Canada canceled their trip to Vermont. Vermont. You can't do anything, I guess, about that, but I hope to the extent you can urge the president to speak in a much more courteous way towards our Canadian neighbors, that's going to help us in Vermont. The other thing we're hearing about or I'm hearing about, you know, Canada is Vermont's number one trade customer, $631 million worth of goods annually, 3,600 jobs in Vermont. And as a result of the tariffs, let me just give you some examples. And I appreciate you listening, but I really want Vermont to be heard. The concrete outcomes of what's happening and the way it's being done. Rovers North is a small business in Westford, Vermont. Thank you very much. They rehab Land Rovers. For the first time in 50 years, they had to have layoffs. Orvis, which is a world-renowned sports equipment fishing company, has been forced to close over half its stores and has gone through multiple rounds of layoffs. Very heartbreaking for us in Vermont. Jasper Hill Farms is an international award-winning cheesemaker. It was started by two young brothers in Vermont. It has now achieved distinction worldwide. Thank And Hill Farmstead Brewery, which is also started by a sixth-generation young man in Greensboro, Vermont. Thank you very much. Both of those have seen their overhead and equipment costs double in price. They're losing business daily to Canadians you. because they don't come down for their visits to their companies. You know, when the global liberation tariffs were first announced in April, pardon me, of 25, President Trump excluded more than 1,000 products without providing any rationale for why those specific products were listed. And those... Exemptions were made, and it appears it was made because whoever was on the receiving end had the ability to contact somebody in the White House to get an exemption. Our Vermonters don't have that telephone number. So we're just getting hit with these tariffs, and it looks like, to some extent, if you have access to the administration, you may get an end around and avoid them, which is really troubling to us in Vermont. We are having trouble getting the refunds. I heard the exchange, and I know that you have to follow the law. I heard you explain that. But just going through that has been really tough for us. So, this is, I just want you to understand how tough this has been in Vermont. We really value our relationship with Canada, both emotionally and financially and economically. Thank you. In the way the tariffs have changed constantly and recently, just I think two days ago, the President has announced new tariffs that may go into effect. People just don't know what to count on, and it's hurting us badly. Lovely. I guess I'll end by just asking if you can give me some assurance that there will be more clarity and certainty to the tariff policy and, frankly, a respectful engagement, even if negotiations are tough, but where we're treating Canadians as the longtime friends of Vermont that they've been. Thank you for listening, Mr. Ambassador. Just briefly because it's out of time, Canada has benefited from the best trade agreement even under the trade treatment, even under the President's trade policy since last April. The vast majority of what they're sending to us has come in preferentially. It has remained that way. It's been consistent that way even now with the tailored actions we took this week. We're fighting against a ban on American liquor on shelves. We're fighting against hard caps on export of American cars. So we've never banned Canadian products. We've never done that kind of thing. But we're fighting against caps on American cheese. I think about your cheese producers. They should be exporting more to Canada. Can't refuse this. So we're trying to balance this relationship, have as much... Trade, you know, liberal trade in North America is possible while protecting our producers. It's not going to happen overnight. We didn't get into this problem overnight. It won't be fixed overnight. But I want to work with you. You list off a lot of companies. I'm happy to meet with them personally and talk to them. You know, sometimes it's tariffs. Sometimes there are other things going on. But if there are things we can do to try to smooth this process for them, I want to work with you. Okay. Thank you. Subscribe to One India and never miss an update. Download the OneIndia app now.