Oct 23, 2025Potato trade talks part of sitdown between trade rep, senators
International potato trade was a topic on the table during a private lunch Oct. 15 between U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and a group of senators.
According to Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), potatoes were a “significant topic,” along with other commodities including soybeans and grain sorghum. Agri-Pulse reported that the senators also raised the issue of tariffs on critical farm inputs in a wide-ranging discussion about the administration’s trade approach.
President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Japan at the end of the month as part of a trip held in conjunction with larger meetings with Association of Southeast Asian nations. Agriculture industry advocates hope the trip provides a high-level platform for advancing key trade discussions, including market access for U.S. products.
The U.S. potato industry continues to press trade officials to use ongoing negotiations with Japan to secure market access for U.S. fresh potatoes — a goal it has been seeking for three decades.
Resumption of aid
On Oct. 21, the administration said certain aid for farmers will be distributed as some USDA activities reopen amid the ongoing federal shutdown. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a post on social media site X, formerly Twitter, that “USDA will resume Farm Service Agency core operations, including critical services for farm loan processing, ARC/PLC payments, and other programs.”
The Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) program provides payments when the actual revenue for a farm is less than a guarantee set based on historical data and market conditions. The Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program provides payments when the effective price for a covered commodity falls below its effective reference price.
