The National Potato Council (NPC) represents the interests of all commercial potato growers in the United States. The Council assists its potato growers in addressing market access issues for both fresh and processed potatoes in export markets around the world. In this endeavor, the Council coordinates its trade policy objectives with the American Potato Trade Alliance (APTA), which is a trade group representing growers, in addition to many major U.S. potato processors and retailers.
Frozen fries are the industry's primary export product, although fresh, seed and dehydrated potatoes are also exported in increasing numbers. Improved access to international markets for frozen fries is of critical importance. Additionally, improved market access is being sought for fresh and seed potatoes and other processed potato products.
Exports of U.S. frozen fries to foreign markets such as Japan, Korea, China, and Mexico have increased in recent years due in part to our industry's promotional efforts in these countries. Exports account for 18% of total U.S. potato production and over 20% of U.S. frozen potato production. U.S. exports of all potato products were valued at approximately $1.8 billion from July 2017 to June 2018. Unfortunately, access to foreign markets continues to be restricted by a range of trade barriers, described herein.
The U.S. potato industry urges increased bilateral and multilateral pressure to achieve liberalization, particularly in fast-growing markets within Asia and Latin America. This is particularly pressing in light of free trade agreements negotiated between key export markets and competitor potato growing nations. The industry continues to support bilateral and multilateral agreements that result in strong market access gains for U.S. exports of fresh and processed potatoes through significant tariff reductions in export markets of interest as well as challenging non-tariff barriers such as unjustified phytosanitary restrictions.
Each report covers the significant trade barriers faced by U.S. potato exports in the specified market, focusing especially on tariffs and quotas, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and technical barriers to trade. It should be considered in conjunction with APTA’s separate submissions on these issues.
A separate report is provided for each country in which trade barriers exist: Burma (Myanmar), Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
