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.
While none of the representatives said they expected any deal to result from the meeting with the U.S. Trade Representative delegates, they said they hoped to open a direct line of communication on the state’s lobster industry. They met with the press before the closed-door meetings.
U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said he also hoped to get lobsters included in ongoing U.S.-European Union talks about beef trade.
“There are ongoing discussions between the European Union and the United States over beef exports and imports,” King said. He said he’d like to have lobster included in a “surf and turf” discussion.