Maine lawmakers weigh creation of office on trade with Canada

AUGUSTA – The fate of a proposal to create an office to promote and assist trade between Maine and Canada will likely hinge on the availability of funding, a legislator says.

“I happen to think it’s a good idea, but given the budget constraints, I don’t see too much happening. If it doesn’t go through, the seed has been planted,” said Rep. Martha Bagley, D-Machias, the House chairwoman of the State and Local Government Committee.

The bill was put forward by rural legislators who are dissatisfied with the Maine International Trade Center and suggest that an Office of the Maine-Canada Envoy would complement the trade center’s efforts.

Rep. Roger Sherman, R-Hodgdon, said he has constituents who can’t sell blueberries, buy pesticide for farm crops, or set up an ice cream stand across the border because of complicated Canadian business rules.

A special envoy who is familiar with business regulations in each Canadian province, and who doesn’t mind working with small businesses as well as large companies, would improve trade relations, Sherman said Wednesday.

“We want someone out there talking to businesses and looking at the big picture at the same time,” said Sherman, a co-sponsor of the bill.

The administration opposes the bill, saying the creation of an envoy could eliminate the international trading center’s largest and most important trading relationship.

“It would create a second Maine International Trade Center, but without the network of staff or services that have allowed MITC to fully assist our business community,” said center President Richard Coyle.

The trade center was created in 1996 as a public-private partnership to promote international trade for Maine goods and services. It receives about $500,000 each year in state funding, and an equal amount from the private sector.

The Canada Desk was added in 1998 to assist Maine companies doing business across the border. Canada is Maine’s largest trading partner, with $3.2 billion in goods being exchanged in 2000, according to the center’s research.