PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 24, 2020
On Wednesday, President Trump ordered Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to consider including seafood producers, specifically the U.S. lobster industry, in any future federal agricultural assistance offered to food producers impacted by China’s retaliatory tariffs. Over the last two years, U.S. lobster has faced retaliatory Chinese tariffs of up to 35 percent. But it is unclear how or when this order will pay literal dividends for the lobster industry. There would have to be a third round of funding and the order’s wording only calls for Perdue to consider giving seafood a piece of the agricultural aid.