Cantwell Urges Biden Administration to Stand Up For WA Potato Growers in Trade Dispute with Japan
Japan, WA’s biggest customer for processed potatoes, still doesn’t allow imports of fresh potatoes after nearly 30 years of negotiations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) led a letter signed by Senator James Risch (R-ID), Representative Dan Newhouse (R, WA-04), Representative Dan Kildee (D, MI-08), and 31 other House and Senate members urging the Biden Administration to help U.S. potato growers finally get approval to sell fresh potatoes to customers in Japan.
Japan is the top export market for the State of Washington’s potato growers. Washington growers export approximately $220 million worth of frozen, dehydrated, or chipped potatoes to Japan each year. However, fresh “table-stock” potatoes, a category that includes common types of potato like Russets and Reds, are blocked for export by Japanese law despite decades of negotiations.
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the Members write:
“Table stock access to Japan was first requested almost 30 years ago. It was elevated to a top priority in U.S.-Japan plant health negotiations in September 2019. However, despite the efforts of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Japan continues to delay substantive negotiations on table stock access, including with respect to our most recent request for Japan to provide a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA).”
The U.S. potato industry estimates that access to the Japanese market will result in an additional $150 million per year in exports. In total, the U.S. exported $2.1 billion worth of potatoes in 2022. In the State of Washington, exports from approximately 250 growers statewide totaled $822 million. Potatoes are grown for market in 10 Washington counties: Adams, Benton, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Skagit, Walla Walla, Whatcom, and Yakima.
“It’s critical for our family farms to seek new trade opportunities with Japan. Senator Cantwell and Representative Newhouse took the lead along with Senator Risch (ID) and Representative Kildee (MI) helping our family farms convey to USDA the importance of trade of our nutritious and beloved vegetable,” said Matt Harris, Director of Governmental Affairs, Washington State Potato Commission.
“The U.S. potato industry thanks Senators Cantwell and Risch, Congressmen Newhouse and Kildee, along with all the signatories to this important letter. Access to Japan for U.S. fresh potatoes would result in a 10% increase in global exports for our industry, roughly $150 million annually. This negotiation is highly-charged politically in Japan and the strong support from these members of Congress is essential in countering that pressure and seeing our goal for American growers achieved,” said Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council.
Sen. Cantwell is a leading proponent of export opportunities for Washington growers. In 2020, she led fellow Senators in support of successful negotiations to permit fresh potato exports to China. Sen. Cantwell was also instrumental in pushing for a 2003 agreement that opened Mexican markets to fresh Washington potatoes for the first time. Washington state growers now export approximately $35 million worth of potatoes to Mexico each year.
The full text of the letter is HERE and below.
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
We are requesting your assistance on opening the Japanese market for U.S. fresh table stock potatoes. This is a vital international trade issue and if successful, the U.S. potato industry estimates that this access will result in an additional $150 million per year in exports.
Table stock access to Japan was first requested almost 30 years ago. It was elevated to a top priority in U.S.-Japan plant health negotiations in September 2019. However, despite the efforts of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Japan continues to delay substantive negotiations on table stock access, including with respect to our most recent request for Japan to provide a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA).
Japan already conducted a thorough review of U.S. fresh potatoes in 2006 when the market was opened for U.S. potatoes for processing. During this review, the U.S. potato industry addressed all Japanese technical concerns with comprehensive mitigations. There is no valid phytosanitary justification for the market to remain closed or for the government’s current refusal to negotiate.
The U.S. potato industry has a proud history of exporting fresh potatoes to many markets in the Indo-Pacific, including South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. These exports occur safely and routinely throughout the year, providing benefits for the consumers in those countries and our growers here in the United States.
We strongly urge you to elevate this issue with your counterparts in Japan with the goal of receiving a PRA before the upcoming bilateral negotiation this Fall 2023. We believe that a resolution is only possible with strong political support in the United States.
Thank you for your attention to this important trade matter for U.S. agriculture.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator
James E. Risch
United States Senator
Dan Newhouse
Member of Congress
Daniel T. Kildee
Member of Congress
Patty Murray
United States Senator
Mike Crapo
United States Senator
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator
Kevin Cramer
United States Senator
Michael F. Bennet
United States Senator
Tina Smith
United States Senator
Susan M. Collins
United States Senator
John Hickenlooper
United States Senator
Angus S. King, Jr.
United States Senator
Suzan K. DelBene
Member of Congress
Kim Schrier, M.D.
Member of Congress
Rick Larsen
Member of Congress
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
Member of Congress
Michael K. Simpson
Member of Congress
Russ Fulcher
Member of Congress
Marilyn Strickland
Member of Congress
Kelly Armstrong
Member of Congress
Derek Kilmer
Member of Congress
Lisa C. McClain
Member of Congress
Chellie Pingree
Member of Congress
Jared Golden
Member of Congress
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Member of Congress
Elissa Slotkin
Member of Congress
John Joyce, M.D.
Member of Congress
Jack Bergman
Member of Congress
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Member of Congress
Thomas P. Tiffany
Member of Congress
Bill Huizenga
Member of Congress
John R. Moolenaar
Member of Congress
Yadira Caraveo, M.D.
Member of Congress
Bryan Steil
Member of Congress
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