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In response to National Potato Council’s (NPC) June 28 letter enlisting the Biden Administration’s support for full U.S. fresh potato access to Mexico, USDA Secretary Vilsack this week wrote to the industry saying that resolving this issue is a high priority for the department.
“I would like to thank you for your extensive efforts in pursuing full access to this key market,” the Secretary wrote NPC. “The positive Supreme Court ruling was an important step in the right direction for U.S. potato producers and Mexican consumers alike. However, it is clear that hurdles continue to exist.”
“Resolving this longstanding trade issue is a high priority at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Our Foreign Agricultural Service teams in Mexico and Washington, D.C., are coordinating closely with other U.S. agencies, including USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, to advance these efforts. I have also met virtually with Secretary Villalobos and held numerous productive discussions regarding market access expansion for U.S. fresh potatoes. We will continue to utilize all opportunities for engagement with Mexico,” he wrote.
Notably, Secretary Vilsack said that once the market is expanded, he is committed to ensuring that “agricultural trade is not restricted without scientific justification.”
The full letter is available here.
