Economics 101.....the law of supply. The greater the supply, the more downward pressure on prices. Lobsters are a perishable commodity so the Canadian fishery wouldn't want them kept in inventory too long. Canada has a much smaller population than the U.S. and therefore perhaps less domestic demand, which might mean more reliance on exports. The lobster species off the coast of the Atlantic Provinces and the New England States is the same. I've eaten from both regions often and have found no real difference so I don't believe product quality is the differentiating factor. I suspect the reasons for the price difference are largely economic/financial/regulatory/trade related....differences in trade tarrifs, export quotas, currency exchange, taxes, government subsidies, domestic vs. export demand, etc. Just a theory with no basis in fact, other than world trade has many examples of pricing inconsistencies. For example, a bottle of Canadian Club Whiskey, distilled in Windsor Ontario which is located on the U.S.-Canada border, and exported to the U.S., costs 50% less to buy in Detroit Michigan just across the river than in Windsor . Go figure.
