On June 24, Donald Trump directed the US Department of Agriculture to “provide assistance” to US lobstermen harmed by his failed trade war with China, but yesterday, the 60-day window for providing that assistance passed. Despite promises to beat China on trade, Trump’s reckless trade war “upended” Maine’s vital lobster industry and exports to China actually “cratered” as a result of retaliatory tariffs. Last week, reporting revealed that China has purchased less US lobster in 2020 than in 2019 when Trump’s trade war was in “full swing.”
Now, after promising aid to try and paper over the damage his disastrous trade policies have inflicted on Maine’s lobster industry but failing to follow through, Trump attempted to rewrite history on his broken promises at his chaos convention tonight. But while Trump promised better trade deals, he instead got played by China and turned hardworking Maine lobstermen into collateral damage.
“Trump’s broken promises have devastated Maine’s vital lobstermen and women and capsized one of our state’s most crucial industries,” said Maine Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Marra. “Since 2017, Trump’s failed trade war has sabotaged lobstermen’s livelihoods. Now, he’s broken his promise to provide assistance to them while they deal with the fallout of his failed leadership. Hardworking families in Maine see right through Trump's empty rhetoric, and this November they’re going to end his failed presidency.”
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