Maine lobstermen, wholesalers worry Trump could ruin access to Asian markets

[jpak]

http://bangordailynews.com/2017/07/24/business/maine-lobstermen-wholesalers-worry-trump-could-ruin-access-to-asian-markets/

Canaan Letourneau, owner of the wholesaler Maine Lobster Outlet on Route 1 in York, said there’s a growing and lucrative Asian market for Maine lobster.

And he’s one of a number of voices in the local lobstering community worried that the opportunity will be lost if the U.S. or its outspoken President Donald Trump does something to offend the leaders of countries like China or Japan.

Letourneau’s company, which also has a small retail operation, has tank capacity for 140,000 pounds of lobster that are shipped domestically, in Europe and in Asia, he said. The market for each is evenly divided, about 30 percent each of the company’s wholesale sales. In 2016, Maine Lobster Outlet shipped 4.5 million pounds of lobster, he said.

Letourneau said with so much of his product shipped live to other parts of the world, he is always paying close attention to the international trade climate. These days, he said, “there are major concerns about our ability to negotiate international trade agreements going forward” — particularly given a somewhat unpredictable White House.

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[erpowers]

1. Who Did He Vote For in the Election?

If he was a Trump voter he has little to no reason to complain. If he did not want his access to foreign markets to be lost he should have voted for Hillary Clinton. It was very well known that Donald Trump said he would back out of trade deal and place or increase tariffs on foreign goods. Trade experts said those actions could bring about trade wars. If American companies lose access foreign markets that will not be a surprise.