U.S., Canada loosen trade restrictions on potatoes

U.S., Canada loosen trade restrictions on potatoes The U.S. and Canadian governments have reached an arrangement that will loosen restrictions on the trade of potatoes between the two countries.
   Canada is the United States’ largest export market for agricultural goods, including potatoes. In 2006, the United States exported $92.8 million in potatoes to Canada, representing nearly 70 percent of all U.S. potato exports. Since 2004. U.S. potato exports to Canada have increased 38 percent.
   The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said the arrangement, which commenced on Nov. 1, should benefit U.S. potato shippers during this year’s growing season.
   Ministerial exemptions for potatoes are generally granted by the Canadian government only when there is a shortage of potatoes in Canada. The new arrangement, when fully implemented in its third year, will allow a 60-day forward contract between U.S. growers and Canadian processors to serve as sufficient evidence of a shortage in Canadian potatoes.
   The arrangement will phase in quality inspections for potatoes at destination and will phase out spot-check inspections along the northeastern U.S.-Canadian border crossing.
   In addition, the United States will initiate a rulemaking to allow imports of some Canadian specialty potatoes that do not currently meet U.S. quality standards for size.