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JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO NEGOTIATE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION TO KEEP MAINE AND DOMESTIC LOBSTER AND SEAFOOD PRODUCTS COMPETITIVE WITH CANADIAN LOBSTER AND SEAFOOD PRODUCTS
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
RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to respectfully request that the United States Congress, under the provisions of Article I of the United States Constitution, negotiate trade agreements with the European Union that will reduce tariffs on Maine and domestic lobster and seafood products, or otherwise mitigate the effects of CETA, to ensure that historical, lucrative industries are not damaged by the economic disadvantage that will result from CETA unless these negotiations are undertaken; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.