BUFFALO, N.Y. — Rigidized Metal is a Buffalo-based corporation that produces three-dimensional metal products for architectural, industrial and transportation applications.

It imports and exports millions of dollars worth of products annually to and from Canada.

President Rick Smith said the company purchases roughly a quarter of its carbonized steel from its neighbors to the north.

"We know that they're one of our closest allies and partners," Smith said. 

This weekend, purchasing that steel could get a lot more expensive. On Friday, Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-NY-26, Smith and other local businesses gathered at Rigidized Metal to call on the Trump administration not to enact a 25% tariff on Canada.

"Members of the business community in Buffalo know that this spells chaos and uncertainty, undermining prices, the supply chain and relationships with our Canadian partners," Kennedy said.

They said the impact of an executive order the president says will go into effect Saturday could be far-reaching, threatening everything from the development of new affordable housing to craft breweries.

Buffalo Niagara Partnership President and CEO Dottie Gallager says more than $116 million of merchandise goes across the Western New York border daily and Canada is the number one agricultural importer. 

"We talk about grocery store prices and how these tariffs could negatively impact consumers, this is not just about impacting businesses. Increase in cost for businesses flows down to increase in cost for consumers and that's something we all need to be aware of," Gallagher said.

Smith said the concern is not only about the United States actions but potential retaliation from Canada, with leaders floating the ideas of cutting off electricity from Ontario to New York and instituting their own tariffs.

"Our largest customer even last year bought well over $2 million of product and that would go up by $500,000. Now, do you think they're going to want to take that if they do put in the retaliatory tariffs," Smith said.

These businesses say it's difficult to focus more on buying more American products, especially in Western New York, because the economy is so intertwined already with the economy of Southern Ontario. Kennedy is also in favor of proposed legislation which would require congressional approval to impose any new tariffs.