Trade policy group to discuss Columbian agreement

Members of the Citizen Trade Policy Commission will meet in South Portland Thursday to get input from citizens about how international trade agreements are impacting their lives.

The meeting will be held at the South Portland Community Center at 6 p.m.

At the hearing, experts in trade – including U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud -- will present their views on the proposed Columbia Free Trade Agreement. The public then will be invited to speak about their experiences with international trade.

State Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, and Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, chair the commission. It is a non-partisan group created by the Legislature in 2004, made up of 13 citizens and six legislators – four Democrats and two Republicans.

“Because of the Commission’s work we now have an open dialogue with the Office of the United States Trade Representative and Maine’s Congressional Delegation, and we are in the unique position of being able to share the concerns and ideas expressed by Maine’s citizens with them,” Patrick said in a release.