Browse our collection of links to recent news stories about MITC, our members, and international trade topics of interest.
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. Read moreMaine delegation meets with federal trade reps to protect lobster industry
Saying lobster is critical to jobs in Maine, generating $1.5 billion in economic activity, Maine’s four congressional representatives met with federal trade officials in Portland Friday. Read moreYale Cordage wins Trade Day’s “Best in Show” honors for second straight year
Yale Cordage, a Saco company that makes a wide range of specialty ropes for key industries such as mining and arboriculture, took home the “Best in Show” trophy at Trade Day 2018 for a new product that it says is “as strong as steel, as flexible as rope and as malleable as putty.” Read moreMaine making mark in exports to China
The potential for Maine companies to do export to China is vast “and this will obviously continue to be a very major focus area for us,” said Wade Merritt, president of the Maine International Trade Center (MITC). Read moreBiddeford’s Fiber Materials seeks new workers as part of diversification, expansion
In this week’s Made In Maine, a manufacturing plant in Biddeford is seeking new workers as it looks to diversify and expand globally. Read moreMaine governor supports more trade with China
Maine is eagerly looking forward to more investment, students and tourists from China, said Governor Paul LePage. Read moreUniversity of New England launches “The Institute for North Atlantic Studies”
The University of New England announced today it is launching a new program to train the next generation of leaders to develop research, industry and community partnerships to meet shared challenges and opportunities throughout the North Atlantic region. Read moreMaine lobster industry fears retaliation if China seafood tariff is enacted
Maine lobster dealers are among a group of U.S. seafood exporters asking federal authorities to keep its industry out of the brewing U.S-China trade war, arguing that putting a tariff on Chinese seafood would likely result in painful retaliation against U.S. exports. Read moreMaine businesses looking to expand trade with China
Several Maine businesses are looking to expand into Asia, but President Trump’s rocky relationship with China could impact those decisions. Read moreMaine companies grow in Asia despite Trump trade uncertainty
As the United States and China began talks Thursday to resolve a huge trade imbalance and avert tariffs that would hurt both countries, the Maine International Trade Center prepared for its annual meeting Friday that will focus on accessing Asian markets. Read more