Yesterday the National Potato Council (NPC) said in a release it applauds the Trump administration’s announcement to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
“We believe today’s action signals the beginning of a strong trade agenda for U.S. exporters,” said NPC executive vice president and CEO John Keeling. “In addition to improvements with Mexico and Canada, the potato industry looks forward to administration efforts to gain increased access in China, Japan, Vietnam and other valuable overseas markets.”
Last month, the NPC provided a letter to the President that offered guidance on how to improve the two-decade-old NAFTA to the benefit of the potato industry. Canada and Mexico are the second- and third-largest export markets for the U.S. potato industry, with a combined annual value to the industry of over $500 million. The NPC anticipates that the market could grow to an additional $500 million under an improved agreement.