Maine's Economy Hangs in Balance as Trade War with Canada Intensifies

The town of Millinocket, Maine, was once thriving due to its paper mill industry, but after Great Northern Paper ceased operations in 2008, the town's economy struggled. A $300 million US aquaculture venture, Great Northern Salmon, was planned for the old mill site, with Norwegian investors backing it. The project aimed to employ 50 people and revitalize the area.

However, the company announced it would pause indefinitely due to uncertainty caused by President Donald Trump's tariffs, which affected the import of salmon farming equipment from Canada. Gail Fanjoy, president of the local chamber of commerce, stated that 'It was a huge, huge, huge blow.'

Maine is heavily reliant on trade with Canada, with $6 billion US in annual two-way commerce. The state's senator, Susan Collins, has opposed Trump's tariffs and called for negotiations to resolve the issue. Her opponent, Troy Jackson, argues that tariffs are crushing Maine and its people.