Maine’s congressional delegation urged the Trump administration on Wednesday to make good on its promise to come to the aid of the lobster industry.
President Trump issued a memorandum in June that called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide assistance to the lobster industry to offset the losses the industry has suffered due to trade hostilities with China. China was a major buyer of American lobster before the breakdown in trade with the U.S.
On Sunday, the Maine Sunday Telegram published an article showing that U.S. lobster exports to China are down from a year ago despite a commitment from the Chinese government to buy more U.S. agricultural products this year, including lobster.
The memorandum included a 60-day deadline, and that means the USDA must act by Monday, the four-member congressional delegation said.
The delegation told Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in a letter to “keep the president’s promise and immediately assist the thousands of Mainers whose livelihoods depend on this critical industry.”
The USDA didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The Maine delegation includes Democratic Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, independent Sen. Angus King and Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
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