(NDAGCONNECTION) – A 34-member, bipartisan group of Congress people is calling on the USDA to press Mexico to honor its trade deal with the U.S. and allow fresh potato access to all of the country.

The March 15 letter was signed by 34 U.S. Senators and Representatives from potato-producing states, including California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. The group was led by Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Angus King (I-Maine) and Representatives Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon).

Mexican officials recently said they want to expect U.S. potatoes during the growing season before allowing them to be imported throughout their country. The U.S. National Potato Council (NPC) and its trade consultants say this stipulation was not part of the original work plan and is causing unnecessary delays.

In April 2021, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled unanimously to overturn a lower court’s decision to restrict U.S. fresh potato sales to within 26 kilometers of the border. In December, Mexican inspection officials visited Colorado to examine U.S. potatoes in storage, at which time they expressed satisfaction and the desire to proceed, said Matt Lantz of Bryant Christie, who has been close to the ongoing U.S.-Mexico trade situation for two decades.

Despite a Mexican Supreme Court ruling made in favor of U.S. potato producers and the completion of successful site visits made by Mexican authorities to U.S. potato plants in Colorado, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) acquiesced to new demands by the Mexican government that will significantly delay and limit U.S. potato exports to Mexico in 2022.

“Given that Mexico appears to be continuing to avoid its responsibilities to restore this access, we request that APHIS explain its decision-making process to agree to these unscientific and inconsistent demands,” the letter from Congress stated.

“We respectfully request that USDA reconsider the statements announced at the end of February, as they are not stipulated in the work plan,” the letter continued. “The U.S. continues to honor our side of this trade deal, and it is imperative USDA ensure that Mexico do the same.”