<p><strong>Washington, DC</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderón have made an announcement to include Mexico in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations, much to the pleasure of U.S. potato industry leaders. The pending agreement is currently being negotiated between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States. The commitments made by the United States and Mexico create a clear path toward establishing expanded trade in fresh potatoes between the two countries that is based on the strong science-based phytosanitary provisions envisioned by the TPP agreement, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> National Potato Council Vice President for Trade Affairs Randy Hardy, Owner of Hardy Farms in Oakley, Idaho, stated, “The decision to strengthen the trade relationship between the U.S. and Mexico is a tremendous win for growers, processors, retailers, and consumers on both sides of the border.” Mr. Hardy, continues, “The agreement to include Mexico in TPP negotiations highlights the importance of a transparent regulatory system on which phytosanitary decisions can be made.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> The U.S. potato industry estimates that access to the Mexican fresh potato market could bring in an additional market potential of $150 million per year. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.nationalpotatocouncil.org" target="_new"> The National Potato Council </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
