BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 18, 2025
In 1993, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) unleashed the forces of globalization. In Maine, a state that had benefited from protectionist policies, the shift to free trade marked the end of manufacturing as the engine of economic development, replacing it with services, specifically hospitality and tourism. It led to an economic development strategy that became incrementally dependent on Canada, not only for its tourists, but for the back-and-forth movements of parts and semi-finished goods. Business is not interested in protectionism. The remedy of tariffs is not going to cure the damage done by globalization; this is an issue of redistribution and regulation. President Trump’s tariffs have generated market chaos, diminished consumer confidence, and increased geopolitical instability. Protectionism may incentivize U.S. and foreign companies to onshore operations to places like California and Texas, but not to Maine. ~ Stefano Tijerina, senior lecturer in Management, Maine Business School