Mexican Potato Farmers Continue Fight Against US Imports

Mexico’s Supreme Court refused last week for the second time in six weeks to make a ruling that could allow substantial new access to the Mexican market worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually for U.S. potatoes, fueling Mexican farmers' determination to continue their fight against the trade.

According to Agri-Pulse, Kam Quarles, CEO of the U.S.-based National Potato Council, said politics and pressure from the Mexican potato industry to stave off competition are key factors behind the multiple delays. But Mexico’s National Federation of Potato Producers (CONPAPA) insists the justices are simply taking more time to educate themselves on the pest and disease threats from U.S. imports.

The U.S. exports about USD60m worth of fresh spuds across the southern border every year despite a major Mexican trade barrier that only allows U.S. imports within 26 kilometers of the border. That could rise as high as USD200m per year if the court rules to give U.S. potatoes full access to the Mexican market. That’s still a relatively small portion of the USD19.1bn worth of total U.S. ag exports to Mexico in 2020, according to USDA data.