Congressional Delegation Updates

Tariff Relief for the Hardwood Industry

The harm many Maine businesses have experienced due to the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China has been a reminder of how reliant many industries and jobs are on the global economy. Though our forest products industry remains rooted in our rural economy in Maine, market disruptions around the world can have a severe effect on companies in our great state.

Two years ago, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on hardwood lumber it imported from the U.S. Previously, China accounted for approximately half of all U.S. hardwood lumber exports, about $2 billion annually. In the 12 months since tariffs on U.S. hardwood were announced in July of 2018, lumber exports to China were down by $615 million. This action flooded the domestic market for this product, negatively affecting companies in Maine. Businesses have continued to see price cuts and a lack of demand for their products.

In January 2020, the U.S. and China signed the Phase

I’m always working to support and advance Maine’s forest economy in Washington, and nothing can take away that focus on supporting your work for our state – but for this quarter’s edition of the Maine Logger, I felt I needed to contribute a different type of column than normal. In a moment like this, it’s important to take every step we can to confront the challenges created by the coronavirus epidemic. Washington is sending help to combat this virus, but it’s up to us to stop the spread; here are a few simple and immediate things we can all do to help slow the spread of coronavirus in our communities.

1. If you’re sick, stay home. Probably the most obvious step you can take, but it’s so important that it’s worth repeating.

2. If you’re worried you might have coronavirus, call your doctor. Don’t just go into your doctor’s office without giving them a heads up. Call your doctor first, tell them what symptoms you’re experiencing, and work with them on a plan. If you can’t reach your doctor or don’t have one, call the Maine coronavirus hotline at 2-1-1 to connect with someone who can lay out next steps.

3. Even if you’re not sick, stay home as much as you can.

4. Wash your hands a lot. This one is simple, but it’s so important. Wash your hands often, for 20 seconds, with soap and hot water. If you’re not sure how to measure 20 seconds, sing a song if you sing “Sixteen Counties” on the slow side, you’ll be all set!

5. Keep your distance in social settings – six feet is the rule! (If you’re having trouble visualizing six feet, keep one moose in between you and the nearest person.)

6. Limit visits to nursing homes and elderly relatives. I

One Trade Deal. In general, I have supported this deal as it works to protect U.S. industry and jobs and promote economic growth. In February 2020, in order to comply with the purchase agreements included in the deal, the Chinese government announced that it would remove U.S. hardwood lumber import tariffs for one year. This includes cherry, ash, oak and other lumber and logs. In addition, the Chinese government committed to refunding Chinese companies the tariffs they have been charged on some species of hardwoods over the past couple of years.

This is a positive development for the industry and could help companies begin to see some relief. I also recognize, however, that challenges remain. As the National Hardwood Lumber Association notes, “work is underway to define exactly what [the Chinese government’s announcement] will mean for these products and what the definite tariff rate will be moving forward.” know this feels counterintuitive why would we not want to check in on our most vulnerable citizens during a crisis? But the fact is, more contacts for vulnerable people means more opportunities for them to catch the disease. For the moment, stick to phone calls or video chats. If you have elderly neighbors or loved ones, check on them remotely, and see if they need help picking up groceries or other pressing needs.

Throughout Maine’s history, our forest products industry has helped drive local economies and provided goodpaying jobs in our rural communities. I will continue to advocate for fair policies that will help the forest products industry thrive in Maine. I also remain committed to working with the industry to help increase innovation in order to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century.

7. Think about your local businesses. Order take-out or delivery from restaurants; a call to your bookstore can get you a book as quickly as any online service; local retailers can put items aside for you for pick -up. A little extra love now can go a long way toward ensuring these local cornerstones will be there when this is behind us.

8. When in doubt, listen to the experts. The most-up-todate information and guidance is constantly evolving, so it’s important to check for updates. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Governor are monitoring this situation closely, so check in on the Maine CDC’s website and call 2-1-1 if you have questions. Also the national CDC has collected many helpful resources and guidelines at coronavirus.gov

This is a challenging time but one we will get through, together. Be safe, be smart, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

As Maine and our nation face many unknowns in responding to the coronavirus pandemic, I want to assure you that my staff and I are working tirelessly to support every Mainer during this unprecedented crisis, including the folks in the forestry and logging industry.

I am including in this column some resources that may be of use to you as we weather this storm. However, information is constantly changing, so I am updating pingree.house.gov/coronavirus as much as possible to reflect our response in Congress.

Congress must work to deliver significant funding and support packages to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak. As of this writing, we’ve passed two bills; one, a $8.3 billion emergency package to invest in state, local, and tribal public health agencies and develop a vaccine; the second, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, makes coronavirus testing free for most patients, assisted the SBA in creating low interest emergency loans , enhanced unemployment insurance, and we strengthened food security by removing USDA barriers. Both were signed into law by the President.

Because of efforts passed in the Families First bill, if your employment situation changes in the coming weeks or months due to coronavirus, please contact the Maine Department of Labor to discuss the expanded eligibility for unemployment insurance. This site is accessible at maine.gov/unemployment. Likewise, the Maine Department of Economic Development has been great at providing comprehensive information for businesses and self-employ individuals. Please visit maine.gov/

The coronavirus is tightening its grip on the economy in all parts of our state. In Maine, loggers are a key part of the supply chain and have been working to expand the markets for their forest products for years. But when demand dries up from small businesses in the middle of the supply chain sawmills and smaller paper mills, for example loggers are likely to see shrinking markets and reduced demand for their goods as well.

This is a time of uncertainty for everyone. Our country hasn’t seen anything like this virus in over a century and no one knows for sure how bad it will be, both for our public health and for our economy. I don’t have all the answers, but my staff and I can help small businesses and their workers navigate the federal resources available to them. That’s why I’ve been reaching out to Maine paper mills and sawmills to understand the challenges they are facing in trying to make payroll and maintain their operations as well as making sure they know about the federal grants, low-interest loans, and other tools that can help them weather these challenging times.

If your logging or forest products business is struggling due to the coronavirus, we urge you to reach out to our office for decd. help. My office has set up a small business response team that specializes in working with Maine small businesses to navigate the federal resources available to them. You can email us at smallbizresponseteam@mail.house.gov. Usually they get back to you within 24 hours. We’ve also created a Small Business Resource Guide that answers many of the questions we’ve been hearing from the small businesses we work with and can help you start the application process. The guide can be found at: golden.house.gov/covid-19/small-business-resource-guide I know loggers and forest products industry workers are struggling as well. Whether you’ve been laid-off, had your hours cut, or are taking time off to care for a family member, the coronavirus is having a real impact on workers in logging communities. On top of the economic impact payments of $1,200 that Congress passed, there are additional resources we can help you and your family access to weather this economic downturn. If we can’t help you or answer your questions, we’ll connect you with someone who can.

If you are a small business owner, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is issuing Economic Injury Disaster Loans for the state of Maine. Many Maine businesses are having to close their doors or suffer significant loss of revenue due to this pandemic. If you fall into that category, you can apply for a targeted, low-interest loan by visiting disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

I know that more work is needed to support Mainers and their businesses in these uncertain times. I am working with my fellow Members of Congress to pass a third coronavirus response bill, this time with targeted financial relief for workers and the small businesses impacted. We must provide zero-interest loans, loan forgiveness, and more flexible terms on these working capital loans for Maine’s small businesses. Businesses need the resources to keep their doors open now, without having to worry about burdensome interest payments in the future.

Perhaps if there is one thing to hold top of mind during this crisis, it is the resiliency of Mainers and our forest products industry. Having faced losses and sudden downturns before, you more than most are an industry of people who harness the tenacity of a Maine forest and turn it into opportunity. The demand for Maine paper products in some sectors has risen in part due to this crisis, and our famous Yankee work ethic is not disappointing those customers as you continue to produce necessary consumer goods.

As we face this crisis together, know that protecting the health and economic livelihood of every Mainer is my number one priority. There is not a single person in our state who hasn’t felt the impact of this pandemic. I am here to support you, so please contact my office if there is anything I can do to keep you or your families safe and healthy during this time. The number for my Portland office is (207) 774-5019.

Contact our nearest office at the numbers listed below:

Bangor Office: 6 State Street, Bangor ME 04401. Phone: (207) 249-7400

Caribou Office: 7 Hatch Drive, Suite 230, Caribou ME 04736. Phone: (207) 492-6009

Lewiston Office: 179 Lisbon Street, Lewiston ME 04240. Phone: (207) 241-6767