Trump directs aid to Maine lobster industry crushed by tariffs

President TrumpDonald John Trump: Trump rally triggers quarantine of dozens of Republican Secret Service agents: Trump needs new plan Trump faces ObamaCare court deadline as political terrain changes MORE He ordered the Department of Agriculture to offer a lifeline to the Maine lobster industry that has been affected by its trade policies with China.

Trump’s trade war with China devastated farmers in the Midwest, but it also evaporated Maine’s main export market, as rising tariffs led China to place a 35 percent profit margin on lobster.

Trump’s Wednesday night order nearly ordered the Department of Agriculture to extend a $ 30 billion farm rescue program to commercial Maine fishermen.

The program previously dumped cash on corn, soybeans, pork, and other farmers primarily in the Midwest.

The move follows years of lobbying by the Maine congressional delegation, citing “serious financial difficulties due to unfair retaliatory tariffs.”

“We have always been steadfast and staunch advocates of solving trade barriers harming the lobster industry, which supports the livelihoods of thousands of Mainers, and have repeatedly pushed for actions to alleviate the economic challenges facing employees of our seafood supply chain. ” Senator Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsMcConnell, the Senate confirmed that Trump’s 200th candidate, Tim Scott, shares racist and threatening messages he received about the police reform bill The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Trump turns to immigration; delays on the primary day are expected MORE (R), senator King angusAngus King Police reform in limbo after Senate setback Democrats block Republican police reform law amid Senate deadlock It’s time to make our national parks great again MORE (I) and Rep. Chellie pingreeRochelle (Chellie) Pingree Democrats spend a lot to put the Senate on the line Night energy: EPA chief touts benefits of deregulation for the environment | Trump officials weaken protections against fish The chief of interior once lobbied against | USDA watchdog to investigate handling of climate reports USDA internal watchdog to investigate reports of climate change allegedly buried MORE (D) wrote in a statement.

Collins is set for reelection this fall and faces a tough challenge in a competition that could be critical in determining the next majority in the Senate.

Trump has made several proposals to Maine voters recently, passing through the state earlier this month to reverse protections for an Obama era marine monument. Trump claimed the measure would help Maine lobster fishermen, but the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is located about 130 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Trump’s tariffs have redirected much of the lobster business to Canada, paralyzing one of Maine’s largest industries, as it has otherwise achieved record sets.

His discussions of the lobster industry have repeatedly blamed elsewhere.

“Pres. Obama destroyed Maine’s lobster and fishing industry. Now he’s back, bigger and better than anyone thought possible. Enjoy your ‘lobster’ and fish! Make a lot of money!” Trump tweeted on Wednesday night.

Lobster sets in Maine have greatly increased since the mid-1980s, including record years in 2013 and 2016 while President Obama was in office.

Trump’s order, which calls lobster the “crown jewel of the US seafood industry,” blames China for tariffs that bounced up to 25 percent in 2018 and then 35 percent in 2019.

“China’s retaliatory attack on the US lobster industry was particularly aggressive,” Trump wrote, arguing that the administration must “mitigate the effects of unfair retaliatory business practices on this important industry.”