No Fresh U.S. Potatoes to Japan and H-2A Processing to Resume
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson and this is your Agribusiness Update.
**The National Potato Council is not pleased with the U.S.-Japan trade agreement reached last week.
The meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi did not include any mention of U.S. fresh potato access.
NPC CEO Kam Quarles says it’s very disappointing that the U.S. was unable to use President Trump’s tariff leverage to push past Japan’s protectionism and finally open this valuable market.
Japan has delayed this market access request for thirty years.
**The Department of Labor’s updated shutdown plan confirms the Office of Foreign Labor Certification will resume processing H-2A temporary labor certification applications during the lapse in appropriations.
The Western Growers Association sent a letter to the White House asking the DOL to resume processing H-2A petitions during the government shutdown.
The WGA met with administration officials to outline chief concerns and highlight challenges this pause in H-2A processing is causing for producers.
**The USDA transferred $13 billion from its Commodity Credit Corporation into a new “Farmers Support Program” fund tied to tariff relief, and drawn scrutiny because lawmakers were not informed.
Because the funds were shifted without notification, some critical programs face shortfalls.
About $3 billion was later reclaimed by certain USDA services.
Senator Patty Murray, of Washington, criticized the move as undermining key farm programs and centralizing funds without oversight.
