Agriculture and Forestry Minister Mitch Murphy is in Mexico this week to attend the annual Tri-National Accord meeting. The Accord brings together provincial and state Ministers, Secretaries, Directors and Commissioners of agriculture from Canada, the United States and Mexico to discuss farm sector cooperation and trade.
"This meeting provides an excellent forum for the discussion of new and expanded trade opportunities in agriculture," said Mr. Murphy. "In particular, I will be discussing with Mexican officials the re-opening of that market to Prince Edward Island seed potatoes."
Mr. Murphy said that Canada is the only country allowed to export seed potatoes to Mexico, but an export ban was placed by Mexico on Prince Edward Island seed in January of this year. Mexico also imposed a ban on New Brunswick seed potatoes in 2000. Exports of Prince Edward Island seed potatoes to Mexico accounted for more than 10 percent of total exports to international markets in some years.
"This is a very important market for the potato industry in this province, and we believe our seed potatoes meet all of the agreed-upon phytosanitary standards," said Mr. Murphy. "I will be raising our concerns during bilateral discussions with Mexican officials."
The meeting will end on Friday.