WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. potato industry leaders applauded the recent announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderón to include Mexico in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations. The pending agreement is currently being negotiated between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States.
The commitments made by the United States and Mexico creates a clear path forward to establishing expanded trade in fresh potatoes between the two countries that is based on the strong science-based phytosanitary provisions envisioned by the TPP agreement.
The U.S. potato industry estimates that access to the Mexican fresh potato market could provide an additional market potential of $150 million per year, up from the current $30 million per year in exports.