Tariffs are Hitting Home in Oswego and Central New York

After nearly two decades with the Port of Oswego Authority, retiring as Executive Director and CEO, I know firsthand that the Port is far more than docks, warehouses, and rail lines. It is an economic engine supporting families, farmers, truckers, and businesses across Central New York. That is why I am deeply concerned by the escalating tariff dispute between the United States and Canada.

The impact is now concrete: it’s reported that the Port of Oswego’s revenue has fallen by nearly 30% due to tariffs on Canadian aluminum slashing cargo volumes. Recent reporting confirms that port traffic has dropped significantly, with aluminum deliveries taking a major hit.

When cargo declines, it affects everyone. It means fewer hours for longshoremen, fewer loads for truck drivers, fewer rail shipments, less business for local suppliers, and reduced economic activity across our entire community.

What concerns me most is what is at stake. A 2023 U.S.-Canadian economic impact study found that the Port of Oswego generates approximately $513 million in economic activity, supports 2,229 jobs, and contributes more than $201.2 million in wages, salaries, and local spending. Among New York’s Great Lakes ports, Oswego accounted for 49% of the total economic activity in that report

Behind these numbers are working families, local businesses, and the core of Oswego County’s economy, anchored by one of North America’s largest aluminum processing plants.

During my tenure, we transformed the Port into a Great Lakes powerhouse, upgrading infrastructure, diversifying cargo, and deepening trade with Canada to become one of the region’s top importers of prime aluminum. When trade barriers disrupt that flow, the damage is immediate.

Having dedicated my career to creating jobs and driving investment, I know firsthand that business confidence powers local growth and uncertainty stalls it. The Port of Oswego has weathered tough challenges before and will survive this one, too. But policy choices in Washington have direct consequences, and right now, local workers and families are bearing the costs of tariffs.

Trade should be a tool for economic growth, not an obstacle to it. I urge policymakers to pursue solutions that protect jobs, encourage investment, and support communities like Oswego that depend on international commerce.

William W. Scriber
Former Executive Director and CEO
Port of Oswego Authority