N.B.-Maine border areas ponder trade war impacts

People in Maine are feeling the effects of the ongoing tariffs on Canadian products.

The uncertainty of a trade war has residents along the New Brunswick-Maine border wondering what will ultimately become of their local economies and relationships.

Amanda Hazlett owns a barbershop in downtown Calais, Maine, with a loyal clientele of both U.S. and Canadian customers. She notes there’s been a change in foot traffic lately.

“I’ve been slower the last week or two. It’s hard to narrow down the reasoning as to why. It could be because it’s been cold out,” says Hazlett. “But it’s been oddly slow this week.”

Hazelett says tariffs may also be playing a role.

“But I’ve still had some of my people from across the border coming over,” she says. “Just not like it normally is.”

St. Stephen, N.B, Mayor Alan MacEachern says local traffic has dropped at the area’s three international bridge crossings with Canadians pledging to stay in their own country to shop.

“This is another hit that’s going to hurt,” says Edward French, editor of the Quoddy Tides newspaper in Eastport, Maine, which covers both international sides of Passamaquoddy Bay. “But there aren’t pitchforks on the bridge yet, so I think we’ll continue to maintain our friendships across the border.

“There is such a lengthy history, really in terms of that cross-border connection back in the 1800 with both cross-border trade and people coming over here to shop.”

On Saturday, a rally in support of Canadian sovereignty was held on the St. Stephen wharf overlooking Calais, serving as one of several events across North America recognizing International Women’s Day.

A few Americans participated in the St. Stephen event, all mentioning their concern about the effect of tariffs.

“I hear these dire things that are going to happen,” says U.S. resident Peter Strickland, referring to Canadian electricity being cut from U.S. grids. “We’re on the Canadian energy grid in Maine, or at least in this part of Maine. So that could have a dramatic impact on us from an oil standpoint, gasoline, fuel.”

When tariffs first came into effect on March 4, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said blocking energy exports was still “on the table” but added she wanted to be wary of carrying it out.

“Our neighbours in Maine are our friends, and we want to put serious consideration into the decisions that might hurt some of the people that have already spoken up against the tariffs,” said Holt.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a pause on tariffs for some Canadian goods until April 2. Maine Governor Janet Mills issued a statement calling for the temporary reprieve to become permanent, saying tariffs would “increase prices for Maine people and businesses and cause havoc to our economy.”

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