New England and Eastern Canada leaders meet amid trade tensions

The 47th annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers concluded on Monday, featuring notably low attendance from high-level Canadian leadership. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz were the only Canadian premiers in attendance.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott was the only one of the six New England governors to attend personally, with other states sending proxies. Other Canadian jurisdictions sent lower-level officials or ministers; for example, New Brunswick sent its trade policy head, and Quebec sent its International Relations Minister.

The conference focused on regional resilience, security, and economic cooperation, specifically addressing how U.S. tariffs are impacting businesses and communities. Discussions also highlighted the aerospace, energy, and defense sectors, with an emphasis on shared supply chains and maintaining competitiveness amid geopolitical uncertainty.