WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the United States Congress as follows:

WHEREAS,  the value of marine resources commercially harvested in Maine exceeded $700 million in 2016, and the value of lobster harvested in Maine accounts for over $533 million of that amount; and

WHEREAS,  total exports from Maine to the European Union exceeded $503 million in 2016; and

WHEREAS,  exports from Maine of lobster to the European Union totaled approximately $158 million, or approximately 80% of all lobster exported from the United States to the European Union, in 2016; and

WHEREAS,  the European Union is the largest global fish and seafood market in the world; and

WHEREAS,  Maine and Canada share the same lobster species and compete for market share in the European Union and around the world; and

WHEREAS,  the European Union imposes tariffs on fish and seafood products that range from 2% on certain types of salmon to 20% on processed lobster imported from both the United States and Canada; and

WHEREAS,  the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, is a free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union that will reduce tariffs on fish and seafood products exported from Canada to the European Union; and

WHEREAS,  CETA will go into effect on the first day of the month following the date the European Union and Canada notify each other that each has completed all necessary procedures for implementation; and

WHEREAS,  when CETA takes effect, the 8% tariff on live lobster exports from Canada to the European Union will be immediately eliminated, the 6% to 16% tariff on frozen lobster exports from Canada to the European Union will be eliminated over 3 years and the 20% tariff on processed lobster exports from Canada to the European Union will be eliminated over 5 years; and

WHEREAS,  while tariffs on lobster and seafood products exported from Canada to the European Union are being eliminated, tariffs on Maine and other domestic lobster and seafood products exported to the European Union will remain; and

WHEREAS,  the elimination of tariffs on Canadian lobster and seafood products will increase trade between Canada and the European Union, resulting in economic injury to Maine and other domestic lobster and seafood harvesters and processors; and

WHEREAS,  the impact of CETA on Maine lobster harvesters, who landed over 130 million pounds of lobster in 2016, should be minimized; and

WHEREAS,  the impact of CETA on Maine lobster dealers, who support 675 jobs and paid $28.4 million in wages in 2016, should be minimized; and

WHEREAS,  under the United States Constitution, Article I, the Congress of the United States has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations; now, therefore, be it