Tougher Trade Policies Can Give Maine’s Sawmills A Chance To Thrive

“No round stick of wood should ever leave Maine.” Have you heard that before? Spend time in the small towns of Aroostook, Somerset or Penobscot counties and you just might. This phrase is echoed by the people of northern Maine who have watched their communities — built on the sweat of cutting, hauling and sawing wood — wither away while those outside our border make money off Maine’s resources. Harmful trade policies impacting our forest product industry have hamstrung northern Maine for the better part of a century.