Maine exports to Canada down nearly 20%, with forest products hardest hit by tariffs

MAINE MORNING STAR • December 11, 2025

Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration contributed to a decline in Maine exports to Canada and fewer northern neighbors coming to visit the Pine Tree State this year. Overall, exports from Maine to Canada are down nearly 20%, according to the Maine International Trade Center. Natural resources including pulp, paper, lobster and salmon are leading the decline, but there are also losses in manufacturing. Canadian tourism fell from 7% of all visitors to the state in 2024 to just 4% in this year. President Donald Trump has argued that one goal of the tariffs is to encourage domestic manufacturing and the purchasing of American-made products. A recent survey from Pan Atlantic Research found that nearly a third of Mainers believe that tariffs are bad for the state because they drive up costs and hurt businesses.