The U.S. potato industry is facing roadblocks working with Mexico to expand fresh market access into the country. Mexico wants to allow a limited amount of chipping potatoes first, and then table stock potatoes from the United States. For those table stock potato exports, Mexico wants to do more site visits.
Kevin Shea, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Administrator, met virtually with potato growers last week. Shea says the agency and Foreign Agricultural Service continue to press Mexico in the best way possible.
“We want to get access, we don’t want to cut off your nose to spite our face either,” says Shea. “If there is some kind of compromise, we can get that will make things move faster that might be in our best interest.”
Last December, the United States and Mexico signed the potato agreement as well as an avocado expansion agreement. Matt Lance, vice president of global access with Bryant Christie Inc., says Mexico burned the U.S. potato industry the last time agreements were signed. Avocado expansion happened in the United States but U.S. potato expansion in Mexico did not.
“Obviously nobody wants linkage, but as the illustrious Mike G used to say, ‘We don’t want to get nothing for something,’” says Lance. “Just know this is where the industry position is, and we would like to make sure, Mexico is not going to move without some leverage, that’s the bottom line, and we need to make sure we continue to have leverage.”
Shea responded.
“I can assure you we won’t be moving on Jalisco avocados until we’re sure that this is resolved,” he says.
According to Shea, Secretary Tom Vilsack wants to resolve the issue before an upcoming trade trip to Mexico. Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council, is glad to hear the commitment from USDA to hold Mexico accountable.
“I think they recognize those tactics for what they are,” says Quarles. “Clearly Mexico has got some other trade issues in the specialty crop industry that they’re concerned about like avocado access, that it doesn’t appear APHIS and USDA is interested in providing those benefits until they adhere to the terms of the agreement that they have signed. We actually have our exports going to all of Mexico. The Mexican industry is pushing back through their government we’re going to do the same.”
