Spotlight On Your State: Maine
Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission (CTPC): The Maine CTPC was established in 2003 with the Maine Jobs, Trade and Democracy Act. The commission has formed working groups on trade and healthcare, trade and labor/economic development, and trade and environment/natural resources.
Recent Legislation
- (06/12/09) – An Act To Require Legislative Consultation and Approval Prior to Committing the State to Binding International Trade Agreements [State Legislature]
Fast Track
What Fast Track means for states
Legislation:
- Senate Joint Resolution 649 – Safeguarding the State’s Role in International Trade Agreements
- Video – Watch a video about the Senate Resolution.
Articles:
- (04/06/07) – Maine Legislature Unanimously Passes Resolution Calling for Replacement of “Fast Track” Trade Authority [Maine Fair Trade Campaign]
Procurement
International trade agreements can bind state policies to restrictive government procurement rules.
Maine governors have committed the state to be bound to the following trade agreements’ restrictive government procurement provisions:
- World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (For a list of the countries party to the WTO AGP, click here.)
- U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
- U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement
- U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement
Letters:
- (08/04/2010) – Maine Citizen Policy Commission letter to President Obama regarding the Korea Free Trade Agreement
- (03/20/06) – Gov. Baldacci’s letter to USTR Portman refusing to sign on to the restrictive government procurement rules in the US-Panama FTA and AFTA
- (05/18/04) – Gov. Baldacci’s letter to USTR Zoellick rescinding Maine’s commitment to CAFTA’s restrictive procurement rules
- (05/06/04) – Maine Fair Trade Campaign Memo to Alan Stearns concerning CAFTA
- (04/05/04) – Letter from State Director of International Trade to Gov. Baldacci concerning CAFTA
- (03/23/04) – Letter from Maine Fair Trade Campaign and PICA to Gov. Baldacci
Articles:
- (05/19/04) – Fair Trade Campaign Media Advisory on Maine’s Withdrawal
- (03/28/04) – “As Jobs Fall, Maine Blames Free Trade; Anti-NAFTA Rhetoric Echoes U.S. Anxiety” [Boston Globe]
Services
Under the WTO GATS state policies can be bound to international rules on service-sectors
Letters:
- (06/03/2010) – Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission to President Obama regarding the Antigua gambling case the LNG compensation proposed
- (04/16/2010) – Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission to Chairman Christopher Dodd regarding the Office of National Insurance in the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010
- (04/08/2010) – Letter from Superintendent Kofman and Attorney General Mills opposing the Office of National Insurance in the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010
- (9/12/08) – Letter from Maine officials opposing HR 5840 – state insurance policy preemption
- (9/12//08) – Letter from Maine governor Baldacci opposing HR 5840 – state insurance policy preemption
- (08/07/06) – Letter from Gov. Baldacci to USTR Reiterating GATS Concerns
- (04/05/06) – Letter from Gov. Baldacci to USTR requesting that Maine be carved out from further Doha round services negotiations
- (03/13/06) – Memo from Maine Fair Trade Campaign to Gov. Baldacci Regarding WTO Service Sector Talks
- (05/31/05) – Letter from 29 State Attorneys General to USTR Portman expressing concerns over the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
- (07/02/03) – Letter from the National Association of Attorneys General to USTR Zoellick on GATS
Articles:
- (04/08/06) – “Baldacci requests WTO exemption” [Bangor Daily News, reprinted on OWINFS website]
- (04/08/06) – “Baldacci opts out of some WTO service-sector rules” [Portland Press Herald, reprinted on OWINFS website]
- (04/07/06) – “Governor Leery of WTO Agreement” [Maine Public Broadcasting Network, reprinted on OWINFS website]