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The National Potato Council (NPC) is disappointed that the U.S.-Japan agreement did not include fresh market access for U.S. potatoes. Japan has delayed this market access request from the U.S. for thirty years, including delays as recently as this month.
“It is very disappointing that the U.S. was unable to use President Trump’s tariff leverage to push past Japan’s protectionism and finally open this valuable market,” said NPC CEO Kam Quarles.
The meeting this week between President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi did not include any mention of U.S. fresh potato access, nor was any reference made to it in follow-up statements. This was preceded by talks between USDA and MAFF officials earlier in October where Japan again provided no timeline for concluding the three-decade request.
Since the end of the first Trump Administration, U.S. family farms have lost over $750 million in exports to Japan due to this protectionism. Earlier this year, President Trump’s announcement of tariffs upon Japan provided significant leverage to finally end the Japanese strategy of negotiation-without-conclusion.
