Potato reps dine with Chinese president
Industry awaits pest risk assessment from China
EVERETT — Two state potato representatives got a chance to be a part of history last week.
Washington State Potato Commission Chairman Randy Mullen and Director of Trade Matt Harris were able to participate in the friendship luncheon welcoming China's President Hu. Respected dignitaries and representatives of major Washington state businesses were also in attendance.
Harris said that he and Mullen did not get to talk to Hu, but got to listen to his luncheon address alongside companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, the Port of Seattle, the Port of Tacoma and "businesses like that who utilize China goods, or it's the reverse where those businesses sell to China."
"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," Hu said at the luncheon.
Harris said Hu's comments in his luncheon address regarding agriculture were hopeful.
The Pest Risk Assessment has been completed by the Chinese government for fresh potato imports from the U.S., and the commission is waiting for the appropriate documentation to be released to the U.S. Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, to begin the discussion of exporting potatoes to China.
Harris added in a WSPC press release they will be paying close attention in the days to come to determine if the current agriculture policy in China will change.
U.S. fry exports increased over 40 percent from 2001 to 2004 to just more than 50,000 metric tons. But after an abrupt decline of over 67 percent in 2005, the potato industry is working hard to increase exports to China for the 2006 season. Additionally, the U.S. potato industry as a whole has been working to open access of fresh potatoes to China.
Harris and Mullen were sitting right across from former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the luncheon. Harris said that Hu hugged and kissed Kissinger like an old friend, which set the mood of the luncheon.
The WSPC has taken two separate trips to China, the first with Gov. Chris 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.
Harris said he has personally visited businesses in China to discuss "high quality" Washington potatoes to potential customers, and said fresh potatoes would be well received in hotels and restaurants in China, not interfering with local production if export restrictions were lifted. The state could also supply the potato processing industry with fresh potatoes in winter and early spring when local supplies are low, keeping potato products on supermarket shelves all year long.
"There's no question about the significance of Hu's first official visit to the U.S., and he comes to Washington state to address the businesses and talk about the economic future of trade relations between Washington state specifically and China," Harris said. "That in itself is a significant moment in history. To be a part of history, it's something."