Washington Potato Commission talks with U.S. Trade Rep

Farm and Ranch May 7, 2010 U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk was in Seattle for a roundtable discussion earlier this week and the Washington Potato Commission was there along with Governor Gregoire, some members of Congress, and representatives of businesses and ports.

Matt Harris, Director of Trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, says much of the discussion was about where the Administration wants to go under the President Obama’s initiative to double exports.

Harris: “Through this discussion we had a very open talk about where we are at with our three outstanding free trade agreements, those agreements being Colombia, Panama and Korea, and also a discussion about where the Administration would like to move forward on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.”

Harris says the discussion with Ambassador Kirk was very positive.

Harris: “And it was very enlightening to hear the feedback from his office about the positives of trade and what we can collectively do together to promote the benefits of trade by what it does as far as job creation for our state and the folks around our state.”

Harris says Governor Gregoire raised the trucking issue with Mexico that has led to retaliatory tariffs against some U.S. exports there like French fries.

That’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on Northwest Aginfo Net.