WSPC attends luncheon for Chinese President
Washington State Potato Commission Chairman Randy Mullen and Director of Trade Matt Harris were able to participate in the historic friendship luncheon welcoming China’s President Hu last week in Everett, Washington. Respected dignitaries and representatives of major Washington State businesses were also in attendance. The importance of the event was evident to the two spud representatives, as they were seated across from former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
News media from California to Washington, D.C. were on hand, and the event was expected to be broadcast to over 1.3 billion Chinese.
"On our part, we hope that the United States will take steps to promote the export of U.S. products to China, including easing export controls and reducing protectionist measures in the interest of addressing the trade imbalance issue in a better and more effective way," President Hu said in his luncheon address.
US fry exports increased over 40% from 2001 to 2004 to just over 50,000 metric tones. But after an abrupt decline of over 67% in 2005, the potato industry is working hard to increase exports to China for the 2006 season. Additionally, the US potato industry as a whole has been working to open access of fresh potatoes to China.
“We understand that the Pest Risk Assessment has been completed by the Chinese government for fresh potato imports from the US,” said Matt Harris, “and we are waiting for them to release the appropriate documentation to APHIS (the US Animal Plant Health Inspection Service) to begin the discussion of exporting potatoes to China.”
He added they will be paying close attention in the days to come to determine if the current agriculture policy in China will change.
The Washington State Potato Commission has taken two separate trips to China, the first with Governor Christine Gregoire to discuss market access and the second with a group of Northwest potato commissions and Departments of Agriculture for chipping potato seminars in the fall of 2005.
“I have personally visited businesses in China and have discussed our high quality Washington State potatoes to potential consumers,” says Harris. “Our fresh potatoes would be well received in hotels and restaurants in China and would not interfere with local production if export restrictions were lifted. We have also found that we could supply the potato processing industry with fresh potatoes in winter and early spring when local supplies are low. This would benefit the consumer and local businesses by keeping potato products on the supermarket shelf all year.”
Chef2Chef News Desk