Does Canada’s economy rely on Maine more than Maine’s relies on Canada? | Fact brief

While Canada’s economy leans heavily on the United States, trade data indicates Maine relies on Canada far more than Canada relies on Maine, contradicting a claim Vice President JD Vance made Aug. 24.

In 2025, 71.7% of Canadian exports went to the U.S., while Canada received about 15.3% of American exports that year. The U.S. exported $333.6 billion of goods to Canada out of $2.18 trillion globally.

But the relationship with Maine was different. Canada bought $1.3 billion of Maine goods in 2025, representing 41% of the state’s exports. Maine imported $4.1 billion of goods from Canada — just 1.1% of Canada’s $381.9 billion of exports to the U.S.

The ongoing tariff dispute is reshaping the two nations’ trade. Canada’s share of exports to the U.S. fell from 75.9% in 2024 to 71.7% in 2025; the share of Canada’s U.S. imports fell from 62.3% to 58.8%.