Maine Gets Another Tariff Timeout—But For How Long?

If you’ve been following the news, you know that President Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canadian imports—especially energy—have been hanging over us for months. They were supposed to kick in with a 10% tariff on Canadian energy, which would’ve been bad news for Maine, where 80% of our gas, diesel, and heating oil comes from Canada.

But, in a last-minute move (again), the tariffs have been put on pause for another month. That means we’re safe—for now.

What This Means for Your Wallet

Even though the tariffs are temporarily on hold, experts say prices could still creep up just from the uncertainty. If enacted, according to CBS News, gas prices could jump 20 to 40 cents per gallon soon. Right now, the average in Maine is $3.09 per gallon (according to AAA), but that could change fast if these tariffs actually happen next month.

And let’s not forget heating oil—according to maine.gov, over 50% of Maine homes use it, and a big chunk comes from Canada. If tariffs go through, expect those heating bills to climb. Irving Oil, a major supplier from New Brunswick, has already said they will need to enact price hikes due to these tariffs.

It's Not Just Gas and Heat

Maine does a ton of business with Canada—we’re talking $6 billion in trade last year, according to maine.gov. So, if tariffs hit, we’re not just looking at higher energy prices. Stuff like lumber, seafood, auto parts, electronics, and even groceries could cost more, too.

So… Now What?

For now, we’re off the hook, but this could all change in a month. The idea behind tariffs is to boost U.S. industries, but in states like Maine—where we rely so much on imports—it will likely mean higher prices on a lot of everyday essentials.

So enjoy the not-insanely-high gas prices while you can… but don’t be surprised if we’re having this same conversation again in 30 days.