POTATO GROWERS APPLAUD CONGRESSIONAL PUSH ENCOURAGING PRESIDENT TRUMP TO OPEN THE JAPANESE MARKET TO U.S. FRESH POTATOES

Washington potato growers saw strong support from Congress this week as lawmakers urged the Administration to prioritize opening Japan’s market to U.S. fresh table stock potatoes.

In a bipartisan, bicameral effort, 68 members of Congress sent a letter to President Trump ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae’s visit to Washington, D.C. The message is straightforward: after more than three decades of delays, it’s time to finally open Japan’s market to American fresh potatoes.

For Washington’s potato industry, the letter also highlights the strength of our delegation in Congress. Joining Senators Crapo (ID) and Wyden (OR) on the letter, were ten members of Washington’s Congressional delegation — more than any other state in the country.

Those members include:

• Murray
• Cantwell
• DelBene (WA01)
• Larsen (WA02)
• Gluesenkamp Perez (WA03)
• Newhouse (WA04)
• Baumgartner (WA05)
• Schrier (WA08)
• Smith (WA09)
• Strickland (WA10)

That level of support sends a clear signal that expanding international market access is a priority for Washington agriculture and the growers who depend on those markets.

A Major Opportunity for Growers

Opening Japan’s market would be a major step forward for the U.S. potato industry. According to estimates included in the congressional letter, market access could create roughly $150 million in new annual exports for American growers.

If achieved, Japan would become the largest export market for U.S. fresh potatoes outside of North America, providing significant opportunities for growers across the Pacific Northwest and the country.

Exports already play a major role in the potato economy. Roughly 20 percent of U.S. potatoes are exported, supporting $4.8 billion in economic activity and about 34,000 jobs nationwide.

A Long-Standing Trade Barrier

Despite the strong demand for high-quality U.S. potatoes, Japan remains closed to fresh American table stock potatoes. The United States first requested access to the Japanese market more than 30 years ago, yet meaningful progress has been slow.

Importantly, U.S. potatoes already have a proven track record in Japan. U.S. chipping potatoes are currently allowed to be shipped to Japan and have maintained a near-perfect record of compliance with Japanese phytosanitary regulations. That strong performance demonstrates that U.S. growers can meet Japan’s rigorous standards and underscores why expanding access to fresh table stock potatoes is a logical next step.

Meanwhile, U.S. potatoes are safely exported to numerous markets across the Indo-Pacific region, including South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand.

For growers facing tight margins, rising input costs, and volatile markets, opening Japan would provide an important new opportunity.

Continued Momentum from the Potato Industry

This congressional push also builds on momentum from the industry itself. Earlier this year, during the National Potato Council’s 2026 Washington Summit, the NPC Board of Directors passed a resolution urging the Administration to aggressively pursue market access for U.S. fresh potatoes in Japan. The resolution specifically encouraged the President to raise the issue directly with the Japanese Prime Minister and to continue pushing for a resolution to the long-standing trade barrier.

Standing Up for Washington Growers

Washington is the nation’s second-largest potato producing state and a global leader in potato exports. Expanding market access remains one of the most important tools for ensuring long-term success for our growers.

The Washington State Potato Commission appreciates the leadership of our congressional delegation and their continued support for the potato industry. Their bipartisan effort underscores how important it is to remove barriers and ensure Washington growers have the opportunity to compete in markets around the world.

After more than three decades of waiting, the hope across the industry is simple: open Japan’s market to U.S. fresh potatoes and let American growers compete.

The full letter is available here.