State Legislature Augusta, Maine 04333

June 21, 2018

The Honorable Susan Collins The Honorable Angus King The Honorable Chellie Pingree The Honorable Bruce Poliquin United State Congress Washington, DC

Dear Maine Congressional Delegation:

We, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the 1281h , ask that you advocate in the strongest possible terms to address the economic damage that will inevitably occur through the targeting of Maine lobster in a trade war with China. China is one ofour largest and most important markets for Maine lobster meat.

Retaliatory tariffs proposed on lobster meat imported to China from Maine, the nation's largest lobster­ producing state, will do great harm to our state. Our $1.5 billion lobster industry is critical to our state's economy.

This punitive action puts at risk the livelihoods ofthe many thousands oflobster men and women and the many thousands more who work in lobster-related industries, all of whom depend on their work in the industry to suppo11 their families. Whole coastal communities will be devastated. The economic hardship that will result must be prevented.

We appreciate that you have raised the issue with the United States Trade Representative. We respectfully request that you continue that effort and take every additional step necessary to address this tariff proposal that would devastate our lobster and related industries.

Thank you foryour consideration ofthis request, continued commitment to Maine's coastal communities and support of our lobster industry.

Sincerely, � r-� �C � Joyce "Jay" McCreight State Representative, Harpswell Joyce Maker State Senator, Washington County

Sara Gideon Speaker of the House, Freeport State Senator, Cumberland County Uve Troy Jackson State Senator, Sagadahoc County State Senator, Aroostook County

Everett "Brownie" Carson State Senator, Cumberland County Nathan Libby State Senator, AndroscogginCounty

8111Benjamin Chipman State Senator, Cumberland County Brian�ocJ+ Langley State Senator, Hancock County

DanaSJ�.t.n� Dow State Senator, Lincoln County Catherine Breen State Senator, Cumberland County =-�-rr�� £) Kimberly Rosen State Senator, Hancock County 1.Dvv' State Senator, Knox County Thomas Saviello State Senator, Franklin County

Susan Deschambault State Senator, York County Shenna Bellows Deane Rykerson State Senator, Kennebec County State Representative, Kittery

Justin Chenette Pinny Beebe-Center State Senator, York County State Representative, Rockland

!/")/ r en ;--.L.,d ' •· · c�arloi\t M W arv r--z- , James Dill State Representative, Hallowell State Senator, Penobscot County

Mark Dion Ryan Tipping State Senator, Cumberland County State Representative, Orono ,;fJ) � �,RH Michael Carpenter John Spear State Senator, Aroostook County State Representative, South Thomaston

��� Matthew Moonen State Representative, Portland Geoffrey Gratwick State Senator, Penobscot County �l,L/ // I �- Erik Jorgensen Statel( Representative, Portland John Schneck ,u-,,; State Representative, Bangor A Af 001��Yr1Ai� Robert W. Alley Sr. � Anne-MarieMastraccio State Representative, Beals State Representative, Sanford Barbara Cardone Christina Riley State Representative, Bangor State Representative, Jay

Rachel Talbot Ross Maureen Terry State Representative, Portland State Representative, Gorham

�� Andrew McLean State Representative, Gorham State Representative, Portland JQrlft}.1tDl��+/u JenniferDe Chant State Representative, Bath State-�a:1:s Representative, Falmouth Patricia+ HymansonPr� � State Representative, York Bettyann Sheats ...... , State Representative, Auburn �.;,r;._cq�Z_. Denise Tepler t; .. � ��,c Kimberly Monaghan State Representative, Topsham - State Representative, Cape Elizabeth .... -,:: . ------Owen Casas State Representative, Rockport C�tJ.�� Kentf� Ackley State Representative, Monmouth Christopher Babbidge State Representative, Kennebunk �)It,.__ �:n1-\J-�'� MarkLawrence Martin Grohman State Representative, Eliot State Representative, Biddeford Donna Doore Ralph Tucker State Representative, Augusta State Representative, Brunswick /}--/h/� 4,jfplt- Aaron Frey Roger Fuller State Representative, Bangor State Representative, Lewiston

Walter Kumiega Dale Denno State Representative, Deer Isle State Representative, Cumberland �.. c.� . /

Janice Cooper ��// State Representative, Yarmouth Anne Perry State Representative, Calais

c:·1-.; � �--- Jessica Fay State Representative, Saco State Representative, Raymond

!W/11�.f Michael Sylvester Richard Farnsworth State Representative, Portland State Representative, Portland c�rr(.7r�,- J�)/Yl/f; State Representative, Waterville David McCrea State Representative, Fort Fairfield � Betty Austin State Representative, Skowhegan

� -��- Stanley Paige Zeigler State Representative, Montville State Representative, Windham State Representative, Portland Margaret O'Neil State Representative, Saco

���j - Lois Reckitt State Representative, South Portland �?;J�'b-- John Madigan tfi

State Representative, Winslow / .. 7..�-);ffe_.. � ..__.,,,.,�, .. Dillon Bates State Representative, Westbrook State Representative, Lewiston

03�J)� Robert Duchesne State Representative, Biddeford State Representative, Hudson �tt� State Representative, Portland Gina Melaragno State Representative, Auburn

�� Scott Hamann James Handy State Representative, South Portland State Representative, Lewiston

Kevin Battle State Representative, South Portland State Representative, Bowdoinham rz6'-' 11,_, Norman Higgins Paul Steams State Representative, Dover-Foxcroft State Representative, Guilford � tY.:::"..::... __ n_�---- tU� d t;;Yr :c Richard Pickett � o/, __,,__) Wayne Parry State Representative, Dixfield State Representative, Arundel -�£�,1�( �­ fll(Phl:=� JefferyHanley � State Representative, Pittston State Representative, Farmington �1�/1-_@�� Thomas Skolfield ��te Representative, Weld Gary.A.r Hilliard'71W ru�-�-� State Representative, Belgrade Richard Bradstre�t State Representative, Vassalboro

�� William Tuell �� State Representative, East Machias MaryAnne Kinney State Represent3:tive, Kno_x . s::x;aw ���-� <�L�,,_,p_J Sheldon Hanington Deborah Sanderson State Representative, Lincoln State Representative, Chelsea ./,.- / .�•;,: /// / ,/ 1�·· /:;! .. . /-- ;:;-·{0/' /)'. • . (. • ,.,�'""�t·· i'' -,-··· ·,. ..,,. . · .11.., 67�til� David Haggan Raymond Wallace State Representative, Hampden State Representative, Dexter /r) /)

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� John Picchiotti d State Representative, Augusta s�;;;z� C\_\\\�t\�-� Stephanie Hawke Carolc�'J� McElwee State Representative, Boothbay Harbor State Representative, Caribou