BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 28, 2025
Maine would feel Trump’s tariffs on Canada. Canada is Maine’s largest trading partner, making up around 50% of our exports and 60% of our imports. Over half of those imports are for fuel oil and electricity, where price increases would be felt dearly. Many of our imported products are inputs used by Maine companies. Across-the-board tariffs will increase the costs of doing business for these companies rather than giving them a competitive edge. New tariffs may also be met with retaliation. Our largest export to Canada is seafood products. A U.S.-Canada trade war could harm Maine’s most iconic industry. Trump’s proposed tariffs could increase consumer prices here by $1,200 to $2,000 per household in the first year. Deportations will also bring higher costs to ordinary Mainers. Trump has inherited an economy that is the envy of the world. It will be up to him and his team whether to nurture this opportunity or squander it. ~ Kristin Vekasi, School of Policy and International Affairs, UMaine