Potatoes to Japan Update Pt 2

Potatoes to Japan Update Pt 2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. More frustration after the U.S. potato industry met in Idaho Falls with Japanese officials for talks about allowing U.S. fresh potatoes into Japan.

Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council, says a frustrating talking points for the Japanese is phytosanitary challenges …

QUARLES … “Those alleged phytosanitary issues are being raised with the intention of preventing competition. And so, when that’s the mindset you can never satisfy them on the technical issues.”

So, Quarles says they try to keep talks on a level the Japanese negotiators understand …

QUARLES … “We just have to keep pushing at the political level to try to restore some balance for the U.S. negotiators to get past that. But that’s, it’s tough!”

But, Quarles says, there’s always hope …

QUARLES … “At some point, the combination of that pressure and likely some benefit that they see, maybe in agriculture, something they want from the U.S., or something outside of agriculture, those lines will intersect and then you’ll have the ability for them to be able to push past their domestic, very politically connected industry that is currently kind of calling the shots for their negotiators.”

And that, Quarles says is clear …

QUARLES … “Their domestic industry is leading their government around by the nose. They’re calling the shots, not the government.”

The U.S. has held Japanese market access for chipping potatoes since 2006.

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