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Fresh U.S. potatoes not in Japan any time soon

The head of the National Potato Council says momentum for U.S. fresh potato market access to Japan remains stalled after officials recently met in Idaho.

Kam Quarles tells Brownfield, “You have responsibilities with your trading partners that go far beyond just this single commodity.”

“It’s really reflective of whether or not you’re going to be a good partner on the global stage and digging their heels in on this issue is undermining them in a host of different ways.”

He says the bilateral trade meeting was meant to ease phytosanitary and other trade concerns.  

“The vast, vast, vast majority of these technical issues have been satisfied,” he says. “This is purely about wanting to avoid competition with high-quality U.S. producers. Each year we go back and ask for the next step in this process. And each year Japan denies it.”

Quarles says opening market access could create up to $200 million in annual demand for U.S. fresh potatoes.

AUDIO: Kam Quarles, National Potato Council