Maine Gov. Paul LePage says the United States should challenge a European Union plan to lift tariffs on Canadian lobster.
LePage, a Republican, says the tariff deal would put Maine lobster at a “significant disadvantage” to Canada. He made the comments during an appearance on WVOM-FM radio in Bangor Tuesday.
American lobster wholesalers and retailers are concerned about the possibility of a tariff change, in part because the exchange rate already favors Canada. The EU, the second biggest consumer of American lobster, imported $152 million in lobster from the U.S. last year, most of it from Maine.
LePage says it’s time to go to Washington and “instill in them how serious this is.” He says he intends to use his connections with the Trump administration to push the issue.
Maine lobstermen made a record haul of more than 130 million pounds last year, valued at $533.1 million.
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