Feb 19, 2024Trade official to address efforts to promote US ag exports at Washington Summit
Alexis Taylor, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, will discuss efforts to promote U.S. agricultural exports at the National Potato Council Washington Summit on Feb. 28.
Taylor’s trade missions recently took her to Japan, when she met with her counterparts to reiterate the U.S. potato industry’s desire to gain full market access for fresh potatoes.
“With one out of every five rows of U.S. potatoes destined to be exported, the expansion and maturation of foreign markets remains a top priority of NPC and the entire U.S. potato industry,” Ted Tschirky, NPC vice president of trade affairs and a potato grower from Washington, said in a statement from NPC. “We look forward to meeting with Under Secretary Taylor to discuss how expanded market opportunities are good for the potato industry, good for the U.S. economy, and good for job growth throughout the entire potato value chain.”
Tschirky said 90% of his state’s potatoes are grown for export.
Returning from her June 2023 trade mission to Japan, Taylor reported “very positive discussions with our partners in the Japanese government” on efforts spanning more than 30 years to open the Japanese market to U.S. fresh potatoes.
The U.S.’s top agricultural negotiator also addressed the topic last month. Doug McKalip, chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, discussed ongoing efforts with NPC CEO Kam Quarles at Potato Expo 2024 in Austin, Texas.
