Maine International Trade Center will host Trade Day 2017, “Charting a Course in the Changing EU,” on Thursday, May 25, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
After 25 years of expansion and relative stability, the European Union is going through seismic changes. The EU’s single market of 510 million people has grown to be the second largest economy in the world worth $16 trillion. But the Greek debt crisis, followed by Brexit, have strained relations among the member states.
In 2016, Maine exports to the EU totaled $503 million, and Europe remained a dominant player, accounting for four of Maine’s top 10 overseas markets. While the current uncertainty puts some long-standing transatlantic business relationships at risk, there will also be new opportunities.
At Trade Day 2017, a panel of experts will discuss how economic and political changes in the EU will impact Maine businesses in the short-term, as well as long-term trends to guide future strategy.