July 23, 2019

Gov't aid fund urged for US$1.5B Maine lobster industry to ease China tariff impacts

Four legislators from Maine, USA, want financial help extended by the government to the state's lobster industry, which has been affected by China's retaliatory tariffs.

In a letter sent to the US Department of Agriculture, Senators Angus King and Susan Collins and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden urged he agency to include significant funding for Maine's lobster stakeholders as the it finalises its aid package for agricultural producers specifically affected by Chinese tariffs.

 "We write to ask that as the Department of Agriculture finalises Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) Programme awards under its aid package for producers affected by trade disruption, you allocate significant ATP funding for the Maine lobster industry," they wrote earlier this month.

"Retaliatory tariffs have caused a very significant export market for Maine lobster–China–to all but disappear. ATP funding will help to develop new export markets for Maine lobster, decreasing the blow of Chinese tariffs on an iconic American industry", they added.

The letter marks the Maine Delegation's latest efforts to advocate for the lobster industry in trade negotiations. In February, the Maine Delegation called on US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to make the lobster industry a priority in the ongoing trade negotiations with China.

In June 2018, the delegation hosted a meeting between top US Trade Representative (USTR) officials and members of the Maine Lobster Dealers' Association (MLDA) to discuss the impact of federal trade policies on the state's lobster industry.

Additionally, the Delegation's June letter noted that the trade war is only one of the challenges facing this vital Maine industry. Specifically, the Delegation referenced an impending bait shortage and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's proposed large whale take reduction efforts, which will have a significant impact on Maine lobstermen.

In May, the Delegation wrote a letter urging NOAA leadership to ensure that the science they are relying on is sound and comprehensive, the risk reduction standards are equitable across US and Canadian jurisdictions, and the industry is included and consulted throughout the decision-making process.

Maine's lobster industry generates an economic impact of around $1.5 billion each year.