Amid trade dispute, New England and Canadian leaders to talk

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Some of the political leaders from the New England states and the premiers of the five eastern Canadian provinces will be meeting at a Vermont ski resort to talk about issues facing the region and the two countries while a bitter trade dispute simmers between Washington and Ottawa.

People are expected to begin arriving in Stowe today, the eve of Monday’s meeting at the Stowe Mountain Lodge. Participants of the 42nd Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers will discuss regional issues affecting the adjoining regions in the two countries such as energy, the environment and trade.

This year’s meeting comes as the U.S., Canada and Mexico are renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement and Trump administration officials have made snarky comments about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“This is a fairly unprecedented time,” said Jeffrey Ayres, a political science professor at Vermont’s St. Michael’s College.