Balint, McGovern Meet with Vermont and Massachusetts Businesses on U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions

BRATTLEBORO, VT — Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Jim McGovern (MA-02) met with Vermont and Massachusetts business owners to discuss the economic consequences of Trump’s ongoing trade tensions with Canada. The roundtable, held in Brattleboro, included Canadian Consul General Bernadette Jordan and the Director of Economic Affairs from the Quebec Government Office in Boston, and gave business owners an opportunity to share how tariffs and unpredictable trade policy are negatively affecting their costs, customers, employees, and ability to plan for the future. The meeting also underscored the importance of maintaining strong relationships between communities on both sides of the border. Business owners and regional stakeholders emphasized that cross-border commerce supports jobs, sustains rural industries, and connects families and communities throughout Vermont, Massachusetts, and the New England region. “Vermont and Canada have been neighbors, partners, and friends for generations,” said Congresswoman Becca Balint . “As a part of this conversation, we heard directly from business owners who are paying the price for this administration’s reckless trade war. They are facing higher costs, losing customers, and putting plans for growth on hold because they can’t count on the rules staying the same. That uncertainty hurts workers, families, farmers, and small businesses across Vermont and broader New England. I’m grateful to Rep. McGovern for joining us in standing up for our regional economy. We need a stable, predictable trade relationship with Canada, and I’ll keep working with him and our partners across the region to push for a trade policy that reflects our shared economic interests and gives our businesses the stability they need to succeed.” “Trump’s trade war with Canada is destroying American businesses and livelihoods,” said Congressman Jim McGovern . “It was heartbreaking to hear from small business owners in Massachusetts and Vermont about how these tariffs are devastating their businesses. Let’s be clear: Canada isn’t paying Trump’s tariff tax. American workers, families, and small businesses are. Trump’s tariffs are wrecking our economy, killing jobs, driving businesses to the brink, and damaging our relationship with one of our closest trading partners. Congresswoman Balint and I will keep fighting to overturn these illegal tariffs, protect our small businesses, and put working people first.” New England’s regional economy is deeply connected to Canada through agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, tourism, and cross-border supply chains. Businesses participating in the discussion described additional costs ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, lost Canadian customers, delayed investments, and difficult decisions about staffing and production. For many businesses, the uncertainty surrounding trade policy is compounding the financial strain. Companies are being forced to reconsider suppliers, absorb additional expenses, raise prices, delay investments and equipment upgrades, and devote significant staff time to navigating changing rules and pursuing tariff relief. Representatives Balint and McGovern are committed to bringing the concerns raised during the discussion back to Washington and continuing to work toward a more stable U.S.-Canada trade relationship that supports New England’s workers and businesses. ###