Potato Council Disappointed In U.S.-Japan Agreement

The recently announced U.S.-Japan trade agreement is a disappointment for the National Potato Council, because it did not include fresh market access for American spuds.  National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles said Japan has the potential of being a $130 million a year market for U.S. growers.

“We have lost over $750 million in U.S. ag exports just because we can't get past this Japanese stonewalling,” he said.

Fresh Potatoes Were Never Addressed

Quarles added not only did the meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi not include any mention of U.S. fresh potato access, but there was also no reference made to it in follow-up statements.  This followed October talks between USDA and Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF), where no timeline for concluding the three-decade request for U.S. access was given.

Quarles said he’s confident that President Trump can get this issue across the finish line, if he chooses.

“President Trump generated a lot of leverage on Japan through his tariff strategy," Quarles noted.  "And using that leverage to finally kick this door open for fresh potatoes made a lot of sense.  And again, it's a simple ask.  There's really no technical impediment here.  So, we don't want to let that leverage go to waste.”

Northwest Growers Would Benefit From The Japanese Market

Quarles said an agreement would be a big benefit for Northwest growers specifically.  He added despite this disappointment, NPC was pleased U.S. Chief Ag Negotiator nominee, Dr. Julie Callahan, called Japan’s delaying strategy a non-tariff trade barrier.

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