U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Maria Cantwell recently communicated with President Biden, urging him to negotiate with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for the entry of U.S. fresh potatoes into Japan.
Highlighting the absence of phytosanitary reasons to block U.S. potatoes, they referenced the successful exports to other Asian markets. The U.S. potato sector, with a valuation exceeding $100 billion and responsible for nearly 34,000 jobs, could see a $150 million annual increase in exports with access to the Japanese market. Previous efforts by Risch and Cantwell include advocating for U.S. potato exports to China and engaging with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support domestic growers. Their initiative is backed by several senators across various committees, emphasizing bipartisan support for the cause.
Source: bigcountrynewsconnection.com