Governor Janet T. Mills (D) Appearing on a CNN Television Morning Show During the Governor’s Winter Conference in Washington, DC. Earlier This Year.

Governor Janet T. Mills (D) and five other northeast Governors today invited six Canadian premiers to discuss the president’s tariffs and to affirm the importance of maintainig strong cross-border relationships.

“Canada is Maine’s single largest trading partner, with more than $6 billion in cross-border commerce occurring last year alone.  Our economies and our cultures have enjoyed strong relationships for generations, which is now strained by the president’s haphazard tariffs and harmful rhetoric targeting our northern neighbors” said Governor Mills.  “I look forward to meeting with my Eastern Province counterparts to tell them that Maine deeply values our Canadian partnerships and that we will work to ensure our historic friendship and deeply intertwined economics endure for generations to come.”

The Governor has expressed her significant concern that the President’s tariffs and harmfl thetoric about Canada — may impacdt Maine’s summer tourism season.  Last year 5% of Maine’s visitors come from Canada and these visitors  spent nearly half a billion dollars.  Esdtimates show that Maine could see about 225,000 fewer Canadian visitors this summer  ——- about 25% less than last year.

Other states participating in this effort to maintain a relationship with Canada include:  Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont.  The Premiers of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Laborador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Rhode Island and Quebec were invited to meet in Boston in the near future.