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China’s threatened tariff on lobster from U.S. has Maine’s industry on edge

The Maine lobster industry is reeling at the prospect of losing its biggest overseas market.

Industry leaders warn that a proposed 25 percent Chinese tariff on U.S. lobster exports will drive U.S. lobster prices down, causing untold harm to an industry that was counting on China to offset market losses in Europe caused by a trade deal between Canada and the European Union.

When the American lobster industry hurts, Maine’s economy does, too.

“This is going to hurt everybody connected to the lobster industry,” said Annie Tselikis, director of the Maine Lobster Dealers Association. “The lobsterman and lobster dealer, yes, but every single person we do business with. In Maine, that’s almost everybody.”

Read full article on Portland Press Herald