Potato growers welcome developments on Mexican trucking
Washington Ag Today March 11, 2011 The recent announcement by President Obama and Mexican President Calderon that a pathway had been agreed upon to solve a trucking dispute between the two countries was welcome news to Washington’s potato industry. Because of U.S actions Mexico had been allowed under NAFTA to slap retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods including French fries. Matt Harris, Director of Trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, explains the path forward. Harris: “We should see a final agreement reached within two or three weeks. Possibly have that agreement go through for comment period, at most 60-days. After that period we should possibly see trucks again coming across the border into a small zone, in my opinion similar to the pilot program. So what that means is that as soon as that occurs, that agreement is signed, the tariffs currently on our French fries and other ag products in Washington state will be reduced in half and then once trucks are coming across the border we should see a complete reduction in those tariffs. So, it’s good news.” Harris says that by July the whole issue should be wrapped up and over. The U.S. potato industry says the Mexican tariffs have cost tens of millions of dollars in lost fry sales. That’s Washington Ag Today. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on Northwest Aginfo Net. ?
