Vance's Remarks in Maine
S. Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that negotiations with Canada are ongoing, but accused Canada of making 'unreasonable last-minute demands' as the two countries remain locked in a trade dispute. Speaking to an audience in Brewer, Maine, Vance said the S. would press for fairness in trade.
'They came in with a bunch of unreasonable last-minute demands,' Vance said. 'I think that we should have a deal, but I think that we need to send a message loud and clear to the Prime Minister of Canada: stop taking advantage of the people of Maine. Stop taking advantage of America. It's over. We expect fairness in our trade policy.'
Vance's appearance in Maine comes as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has suspended trade negotiations with the United States, according to The Daily Beast. The suspension followed months of escalating tariffs and countermeasures between the two countries.
Economic Impact on Maine and Beyond
The trade dispute has had measurable effects on both sides of the border. According to a report in the Portland Press Herald, the American share of Canadian exports fell from 76% to 68% in one year. Canada sold C$35 billion less to the United States, though it offset most of that decline with a C$29 billion increase in exports to other markets.
The same report noted that Canadian consumer behavior has shifted: trips to the United States fell about 25% in 2025, with four million fewer visits, and Canadians spent US$3.3 billion less there. S. spirits exports to Canada fell by 85% in the second quarter of 2025.
Maine has been hit particularly hard. The Portland Press Herald reported that Maine's exports to Canada dropped about 18%, and Canadian border crossings fell 25%. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, has been vocal in her opposition to the tariffs, arguing they harm her state's economy.
'I still think imposing new tariffs on Canada is a mistake,' Collins told reporters, as reported by The Daily Beast. She noted that many of Maine's key products—blueberries, potatoes, lobster, and lumber—are processed in Canada and could face tariffs as high as 50% if they return to the S. 'That increases the cost of eating, building homes, and merchandising our best known products,' she said.
Collins said she has voted repeatedly against Canadian tariffs and has met with the Canadian ambassador to urge Canada to address barriers to dairy products. 'This has been really up and down,' she said. 'Yesterday I thought we had an agreement. This morning I read that it had collapsed. So who knows what tomorrow will bring, but I hope it will bring an agreement.'
Canada's Diversification Strategy
While Vance framed Canada as a reluctant partner, the Portland Press Herald reported that Canada has been actively seeking alternatives to S. trade. Prime Minister Mark Carney's government signed 20 trade and security agreements on four continents in its first 10 months, including deals with Indonesia, Ecuador, and the United Arab Emirates. Canada also became the only non-European country admitted to the European Union's €150 billion SAFE defense-procurement program.
The report suggested that Canada's efforts to diversify its trade relationships have reduced its dependence on the S. market, with the American share of Canadian exports falling from 76% to 68% in a year.
Political Reactions
Vance's visit to Maine was part of a campaign stop for Republican candidates, including Senator Collins, who faces a competitive reelection race against Democrat Troy Jackson, according to The Daily Beast. Vance praised Collins at a rally, calling her 'the most independent member of the United States Senate.'
White House spokesman Kush Desai defended the administration's tariff policy, saying President Trump 'ascended to the White House on a clear promise' that 'forgotten Americans would be forgotten no longer.' Desai said American workers had 'borne the brunt' of 'lopsided trade relations.'
Collins, however, said she hopes an agreement can be reached soon, despite the current impasse.