NPC STATEMENT ON U.S.-COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
Published online: Apr 07, 2011
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WASHINGTON, D.C.-The NPC is encouraged by yesterday's announcement from the White House that a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia has been reached. Under the agreement, the 20 percent tariff on U.S. frozen and dehydrated potatoes and potato chips will be immediately eliminated.
"As the third-largest economy in Central and South America, Colombia is an important market for US potatoes," said NPC President Justin Dagen, a grower from Karlstad, Minn. "In 2010 alone, U.S. frozen potato exports to Colombia increased by 32 percent-from $1.8 million in 2009 to $2.3 million. We applaud the Obama Administration's efforts to boost exports and economic growth in the U.S. as outlined in his National Export Initiative. We encourage President Obama to immediately send the FTA to Congress for passage and look forward to working with Congress to secure passage for not only the FTA with Colombia, but also the FTAs with Korea and Panama."
When fully implemented, the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is expected to result in an annual export market for U.S. potatoes and potato products of $5 to $10 million.