U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has reached out to members of the Trump Administration urging them to provide relief to Maine’s blueberry industry in light of the tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum, according to a letter her office released.
In her two-page letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Sen. Collins explained that between this year’s drought conditions and the increased costs of the tariffs, Maine’s blueberry industry is at risk.
She highlighted the industry’s $361 million annual contribution to Maine’s economy and points out the $28 million in losses that producers have already sustained due to this year’s weather conditions.
Because blueberry harvesting requires the frequent replacement of cutting knives in the mowing equipment used by producers, the new tariffs have had a significant impacts on the costs of these parts, as much as doubling them.
Collins explained in her letter that this specialized equipment is only readily available in Canada, meaning that Maine’s blueberry producers currently have no viable alternative that is affordable and based in the United States.
“This serves as yet another example of the interconnected nature of Maine’s economy with Canada and the need to reach a trade deal with our closest trading partner,” Collins wrote.
In the letter, she requested that wild blueberry harvesting, processing, and mowing equipment be exempted from the tariff imposed on steel and aluminum from Canada.
“I understand the Administration terminated the exclusion process for steel and aluminum earlier this year – a decision I encouraged the Administration to reverse in an earlier letter,” said Collins. “Nevertheless, it is critical that Maine’s wild blueberry industry receive targeted relief.”
“I urge the Administration to ensure its tariff policies align with its stated goal of supporting our farmers and producers — or our consumers, our manufacturers, our blueberry growers, and more will all continue to pay the price,” Collins concluded.
Click Here to Read the Full Letter
Collins has previously reached out to other members of the Trump Administration seeking aid for other aspects of Maine’s agricultural industry, both with respect to tariffs and the drought conditions that afflicted many areas this fall.
[RELATED: Susan Collins Urges USDA to Provide Drought Relief to Maine’s Fruit Growers and Livestock Producers]
In early November, she sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins asking her to provide disaster assistance to Maine’s specialty crop and livestock producers.
Soon after that, she joined forces with Sen. Angus King (I) in urging the Trump Administration to provide relief to the forest products industry in light of the tariffs, citing how Maine’s producers are “deeply entwined” Canada, meaning that a great deal of product moves back and forth across the border every day.
