John Leiby

VIDEO: U. S. Rep Mike Michaud, Andreas Waldkirch and Stephano Tijerina give their takes on international trade. Scroll down or click here for what they had to say about Columbia.

Maine has been hit hard by job losses, and most are quick to blame national trade agreements for the demise of the state’s factories and mills.

The Citizen Trade Policy Commission, appointed by the Legislature, has been tasked to travel the state and talk to the public about the national trade deals, and then make sure the concerns are elevated to the federal level. Thursday, they met in South Portland where experts and residents spoke out against the proposed Columbian trade deal.