One of the many barriers holding Atlantica back from being more attractive as a transportation corridor is the number of borders that goods have to cross to get to their destination. Different provinces and states have different regulations and standards adding complexity and cost to transportion. Attracting trade will require major investment in the region and strategies that think outside of provincial boxes.
A lot of talk about Atlantica focuses on imports from other markets around the world flowing into North America through its gateway. A large investment in NB's potash industry, however, has its eye on using the region's ports to target foreign export markets, such as Brazil.
A conference in Halifax highlights the potential for Atlantica as the energy hub for the energy hungry US northeast.
Marine transport is lower cost than land and it's greener. Past increases in trade flows in North America have largely been handled by existing land routes pushing them to the limits while waterways have been underutilized. Reducing the import duty on foreign made vessels could help spur much needed investment in replacing Canada's ageing fleet at an opportune time.
The potential for the Lower Churchill hydro power project to benefit Atlantica and beyond is discussed in this news article. Power from the Upper Churchill is transmitted through Quebec, but for the Lower Churchill the proposal is to transmit through the eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S.; a definite advantage for Atlantica.
AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley writes that an undignified scramble for "free government money" threatens the strategy.
Much of the trade carried through the Atlantica region goes by truck. In addition to the threat posed by high fuel prices on this industry, there are restrictions forcing trucks carrying more than 80 000 pounds off interstate highways onto smaller roads. Two Maine Senators have proposed a pilot programme that would allow truckers to use federal highways to cut costs when fuel prices are abnormally high. If permitted, these changes could have a much wider impact on the Atlantica region since it would serve to reduce the high costs of land transportation linking the Atlantica region with hinterland markets making the transportation gateway more attractive.
New investment by a British manufacturing firm in Maine highlights the strategic position of the region for foreign companies looking at access to the lucrative US market.
Businesses on both sides of the border have experienced problems as security concerns have caused the US/Canada border to thicken. The Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce meeting in Stanley Bridge over the weekend stressed, however, the importance to businesses in the Atlantica region of finding ways to balance security issues with trade flows.
A recent meeting between the Quebec and New Hampshire Chambers of Commerce stressed the common North-South ties that bind these regions together in spite of a political border.