NPC Frustrated Over Talks With Japan
The most recent talks with Japanese officials that began nearly 20 years ago about getting U.S. fresh potatoes access in Japan ended just as they have every other year, in frustration. National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles said nothing has changed.
“They do these bilateral meetings every single year. Last year was Tokyo, and this year was Idaho Falls, which is great for the Japanese technical officials to be able to see the high quality of U.S. production, and they went to premier operations," Quarles said. "That being said, this story remains the same.”
Quarles added last year in Tokyo, they said we’re not going to commit to anything other than to keep talks going. And he said that’s how talks this year ended; stressing almost the same verbiage was used. Quarles says the problems is a simple one, the Japanese growers do not want the competition.
“I think their domestic industry would very much like to continue that forever. They would love to never have to move this process forward, and so, it’s incumbent upon us to continue pushing on them and getting them to, hopefully, get to a better place. But, right now, it is foot-dragging and digging their heels in.”
Quarles said a frustrating talking point for the Japanese is phytosanitary challenges, but as he pointed out, those phytosanitary issues are being raised to prevent competition. Quarles added when that’s the mindset, the U.S. can do nothing to satisfy Japan on the technical issues.
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