EEUU: Grant County potato farmers could benefit from partnership

The Washington State Potato Commission supports the agreement, which would establish new free trade regulations between the United States and 11 countries in Asia, North and South America and Australia.

The pact is aimed at developing economic ties between the countries by slashing tariffs and fostering trade to boost growth.

About 90 percent of all the potatoes grown in Washington are exported to international and domestic markets, and the industry contributes about $4.6 billion to the state economy every year, according to the commission.

Opening up new trade markets and reducing tariffs would allow Washington farmers to better compete with European farmers, who receive preferential market access, stated Matt Harris, Assistant Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission.

“Reducing tariffs on potatoes exported to the TPP region will remove a very large competitive disadvantage facing Washington’s potato industry and allow farmers to compete in the global marketplace,” Harris stated.

In 2014, the state exported more than $200 million in frozen potato products to Japan under an applied 8.5 percent tariff. Harris said the Trans-Pacific Partnership would eventually eliminate that tariff and increase the competitiveness of products produced in Washington State.

Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt stated the agreement would be a “big win” for farmers.

“We need fair trade. We can be more competitive in a global market when tariffs are eliminated and other countries are held to higher environmental and labor standards like we are here in the United States,” Voigt stated.

Congress has not approved the Trans-Pacific Partnership.