Allison Hope During Welch’s Tariff Town Hall: “Our industry has grown in production almost 500% over the last 20 years, and these tariffs would go a long way towards potentially slowing that production.”

Vermont sugar makers produce the most maple syrup in the nation.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced Allison Hope, Executive Director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association, will join Senator Welch for President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress on Tuesday evening.  

Vermont’s maple industry—as well as farms and businesses across Vermont—are bracing for the economic fallout of the Trump’s 25% tariff on Canada, which will go into effect tomorrow. Sugar makers expect the cost of Canadian-made sugaring equipment to dramatically increase. Bulk maple sales to major retailers like Costco, Target, and Whole Foods rely on both U.S. and Canadian producers and most of the equipment needed to produce syrup is manufactured in Canada. 

“These tariffs are really going to hurt our economy in Vermont, and the impacts will be far-reaching. President Trump is singlehandedly raising costs for Vermonters—from the food on our table, to our energy bills, to the materials and equipment our home construction companies and manufacturers need. It’s important that the Trump Administration and my colleagues across the aisle hear directly from those who are impacted and that they drop this misguided plan,” said Senator Welch. 

During Senator Welch’s virtual town hall on tariffs in February, Allison Hope of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association shared: “Our industry has grown in production almost 500% over the last 20 years, and these tariffs would go a long way towards potentially slowing that production.” 

Today, Senator Welch will join Governor Phil Scott, the Solinsky Family, who are fourth-generation sugar makers from the northeast kingdom, Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts, the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association, and community members at the Governor’s annual ‘First Tapping’ event, which celebrates Vermont’s maple industry and the Green Mountain State’s sugar makers. Vermont sugar makers produce the most maple syrup in the nation, with 3.1 million gallons produced in 2024, an increase of nearly 20% from 2023. 

Last week, Senator Welch expressed opposition to the Trump Tariffs in voting against the nomination of Jamieson Greer for United States Trade Representative. He also joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-N.H.) Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act, which would shield American businesses and consumers from rising prices imposed by tariffs on imported goods into the United States. The bill would keep costs down for imported goods by limiting the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—which allows a President to immediately place unlimited tariffs after declaring a national emergency—while preserving IEEPA’s use for sanctions and other tools.   

In January, Welch introduced the Making Agricultural Products Locally Essential (MAPLE) Act and the Supporting All Producers (SAP) Act, two bipartisan, bicameral bills to support Vermont’s maple industry.   

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