A recently agreed work plan between the United States of America (US) and Mexico agriculture officials states that the entire Mexican market would be open no later than May 15, 2022, for all US table stock and chipping spuds.
On April 5, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Mexico Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Victor Manuel Villalobos Arambula announced that the US and Mexico have concluded all necessary plant health protocols related to expanded US fresh potato shipments.
Recently, the National Potato Council appreciated the ‘positive announcement’ and thanked Secretary Vilsack and the teams at USDA and USTR for their efforts to ensure that Mexico lives up to its bilateral trade obligations.
“Given the history of this 25-year trade dispute, we are waiting to declare victory until we see durable exports of both fresh processing and table stock potatoes throughout all of Mexico as required by the November 2021 signed agreement. We hope the April site visit by Mexican officials will be the last hurdle we need to clear and that no last-minute roadblocks will be erected before Mexico finally – and permanently – reopens its border to U.S.-grown potatoes,” the NPC press release states.
Despite the restriction of US fresh shipments to only the 26-kilometer border region within Mexico, the country is the second-largest market for fresh potato exports, purchasing 124,449 tons valued at USD60m in 2021, according to the National Potato Council’s representatives.
The US potato industry estimates that access to the entire country for fresh US potatoes will provide a market potential of USD250m per year, in five years, according to the NPC statement.
Mexico is the largest export market for US potatoes and products valued at USD394m in 2021.
