Reflecting on Potatoes to Japan Decision
From the Western Ag Network, I’m Bob Larson. More reflection is happening for U.S. potato industry folks after yet another failed attempt to get U.S. fresh potato access into the Japanese market.
National Potato Council president, Kam Quarles told the Eye on Potatoes Podcast, this 30-year effort has been, to say the very least, incredibly frustrating …
QUARLES … “There were Japanese officials who were saying, they’re rushing to judgement on this U.S. market access agreement. Thirty years of foot dragging is a rush to judgement in their minds. That was, that was quite amusing and a little baffling. But it also tells you the gravity of the situation that we’re facing.”
But, ever the optimist, Quarles says he is not ready to give up …
QUARLES … “I think we can get past this. We’ve got a lot of great allies on our side in, like I said, the Department of Agriculture, and USTR, and the White House. It’s going to take all of them. This is going to be a real focused effort to get to the finish line here.”
And now that the election season is over with, maybe we can focus on some important issues like these …
QUARLES … “We’re very hopeful that, with the work of the Administration, finally, we can bring this to a halt.”
Again, that’s Kam Quarles, president of the National Potato Council.
