Fresh Potato Talks with Japan Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Talks with Japanese officials could mean better trade agreements, better use of tariffs, and maybe U.S. fresh potato access in Japan.
But, Kam Quarles, CEO at the National Potato Council, says it’s a bit early to make assumptions …
QUARLES … “From the administration’s side of things, I don’t know how much they got into the substance of any one of the issues, but we certainly believe that this is going to be front and center.”
Quarles says getting fresh potatoes into Japan would be great, but …
QUARLES … “This is a top U.S. ag priority with Japan, and we think it should certainly be dealt with as they put together whatever this package is going to be that settles, hopefully, the tariff issues between the U.S. and Japan.”
And, Quarles says Japan is part of a larger agreement …
QUARLES … “The countries that were formally in what was known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, which the U.S. negotiated but then never signed, Viet Nam, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, were looking to restore the tariff benefits that existed within that agreement, which would make it that much easier for potato products and, specifically, frozen products be able to reach those markets.”
Quarles says given the export dependence of the U.S. potato industry, there’s substantial concern about tariffs impairing access to these valuable trading partners.
