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On Monday, U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Angus King (I-Maine), U.S. Congressmen Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon), and 30 of their congressional colleagues issued a bipartisan, bicameral letter calling on USDA to press its counter-agency in Mexico to honor and expedite the U.S.-Mexico trade deal restoring U.S. fresh potato exports to Mexico.
In a press release, the members wrote, “Despite a Mexican Supreme Court ruling made in favor of U.S. potato producers and the completion of successful site visits made by Mexican authorities to U.S. potato plants in Colorado, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) acquiesced to new demands by the Mexican government that will significantly delay and limit U.S. potato exports to Mexico in 2022.”
“This trade issue has dragged on far too long, and we appreciate Members of Congress for weighing in on behalf of America’s potato growers and the communities they support,” said National Potato Council (NPC) President and Washington state potato grower Jared Balcom. “Just when we thought Mexico was preparing to honor its trade commitments, we learned that they added last-minute requirements and reinterpreted the agreed-to work plan to once again prevent U.S. potatoes from gaining full market access. The National Potato Council is grateful for the Members of Congress who signed on to this bipartisan letter urging USDA to utilize all necessary pressure to ensure that Mexico finally adheres to its commitments.”
NPC CEO Kam Quarles commented, “The bipartisan letter was signed by high-ranking members of congressional leadership, including Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) of the Senate Finance Committee, Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Ranking Member John Hoeven (R-N.D.) of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, and both Democratic Senators from Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington. The bipartisan support is a direct result of potato growers traveling to D.C. to advocate for industry priorities at the NPC Washington Summit and demonstrates what can be done when the industry stands up for potatoes on Capitol Hill.”
