After years of delay, on April 28, Mexico's Supreme Court unanimously ruled to overturn a lower court decision that prevented the Mexican federal government from implementing regulations to allow for the importation of fresh U.S. potatoes throughout the country. The ruling, cheered by the U.S. potato industry and its supporters in the U.S. federal government, marks the end of a decade-long legal process that began when Mexico’s potato industry sued its government to prevent competition from imports.
NPC Vice President of Trade Affairs Jared Balcom and NPC CEO Kam Quarles call in to celebrate the decision and discuss next steps, including urging Mexico to immediately reinstate the rules to allow for the normalization of trade between our countries.
Mexico is the third largest export market for U.S. potatoes and products valued at over $270 million in 2020. Despite the restriction to the 26-kilometer border region Mexico is the second largest market for fresh potato exports accounting for 106,000 metric tons valued at $60 million in 2020. The U.S. potato industry estimates that access to the entire country for fresh U.S. potatoes will provide a market potential of $200 million per year, in five years.