There are lingering concerns about trade with Mexico in the wake of USMCA.
The National Potato Council joined 20 other good and ag groups sending a letter to Ag Secretary Vilsack and U.S. Trade Rep Tai. They claim a long-standing political battle in Mexico creates barriers in the U.S.
The Potato Council says that powerful lobbyists do not want to compete with the U.S. and Mexican potato growers support the protection.
According to the Council’s CEO Kam Quarles, “In potatoes, we have an extremely high-quality product that actually would sell in Mexico at likely a lower cost than their domestically produced potatoes. Mexican potato producers know that and they don’t want to compete against the U.S. product, and so, they’re using every mechanism they can to keep us out for as long as they can.”
Some domestic growers have sued their government and the Mexican Supreme Court is deciding the case. If it rules against the government, every food and ag import would be subject to challenges.
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