Colombia FTA announcement welcomed by potato growers
Washington Ag Today April 8, 2011 This week’s White House announcement that a Free Trade Agreement with Colombia had been reached was encouraging news to the potato industry. Matt Harris, Director of Trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, says hopefully this paves the way for final action on the trade deal. Harris: “For the potato industry what that means is that Colombia will eliminate a 20% fry, dehy and potato chip tariff on the implementation of this agreement. So, in dollars and cents the U.S. has exported about 2.3 million dollars worth of frozen processed potatoes to that market in 2010. So with that reduction in tariff we should see some more benefit and leveling that global playing field for our product in that market.” The National Potato Council says the Colombia FTA is expected to result in an annual market for U.S. potatoes and potato products of from five million to 10 million dollars. The Potato Commission’s Harris says the industry would also benefit from the Panama and Korean Free Trade Agreements. Harris: “All three trade agreements are pending and its good to see Colombia is got some forward momentum. Korea has that same momentum so hopefully we could see Panama hit the table and possibly witness all three of these agreements come through this summer.” 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.
