Md., Va. Lawmakers Ask for Safeguard Investigation for Crab Meat
Virginia's and Maryland's senators, along with members of Congress from both states, asked President Joe Biden to direct the International Trade Commission to open a Section 201 investigation on harm to the Chesapeake Bay fisheries from a surge of crab meat imports from Venezuela.
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"Domestic seafood producers in Maryland and Virginia have experienced significant strain due to the influx of imported Venezuelan crabmeat, some of which is mislabeled and contaminated," the lawmakers wrote. "In 2018, Venezuelan crabmeat mislabeled as originating from Maryland caused an outbreak of foodborne illnesses, resulting in multiple hospitalizations," they said.
The bipartisan letter also urged Biden to hold bilateral dialogues with Venezuela on the trade issue.
The letter was signed by Maryland's Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Virginia's Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, all Democrats; along with Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md.; Andy Harris, R-Md.; Kweisi Mfume, D-Md.;. David Trone, D-Md.; John Sarbanes, D-Md.; Glenn Ivey, D-Md.; and Rob Wittman, R-Va.