Potatoes to Mexico
Idaho's U.S. senators laud potato trade breakthrough
Mexico will fully open its market to U.S. potatoes after a 15-year negotiating process.
Idaho's U.S. senators are celebrating a trade breakthrough with Mexico that will fully open the market south of the border to American potatoes.
While Mexico is the largest market for U.S. potatoes, imports have been limited until now to a roughly 16 mile area along the U.S.-Mexico border. After the two countries reached an agreement late last year to expand market access, the first shipments were sent from Idaho last week.
Crapo, Risch Applaud Full Market Access for Idaho Potatoes in Mexico
Washington, D.C.--Idaho Senators U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) issued the following statements after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Mexico is granting full market access for U.S. fresh potatoes, with the first shipment into Mexico coming from Idaho.
“Thanks to commitments made under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, (USMCA), U.S. fresh potatoes now have full market access in Mexico, and a shipment of Idaho potatoes was cleared to enter the country,” said Crapo. “Addressing this decades-long dispute is a significant step forward in improving and strengthening our trade relationship with Mexico. While this is a positive development, we must continue to monitor Mexico’s compliance with USMCA to ensure every aspect is fully enforced and the agreement lives up to its full potential.”
“Today’s development has been a long time in the making. I’m glad to see this initial shipment of fresh Idaho potatoes granted access to Mexico, but this needs to be the first step of many,” said Risch. “Potato growers in Idaho and across the country were promised meaningful market access more than 15 years ago, and Mexico has a responsibility to make good on its pledge to our farmers.”
