The potato-shaped loophole in free trade
Planet Money
2025/01/03
The potato-shaped loophole in free trade
The potato-shaped loophole in free trade

Planet Money
2025/01/03
Shownote
Shownote
Ever since free trade opened up between the US and Mexico in the 1990s, trillions of dollars of goods have been going back and forth between the two countries, from cars to strawberries to MRI machines to underwear. But one major exception has been fresh A...
Highlights
Highlights
The story of the American potato trade with Mexico is a tale of persistence, politics, and the complexities of international commerce. For decades, American potato farmers faced a seemingly insurmountable barrier: a vast, untapped market just south of the border that remained off-limits due to trade disputes and local opposition. This episode dives into the 26-year saga of how American potatoes finally broke through, revealing the intricate dance between free trade agreements and national interests.
Chapters
Chapters
Why Were American Potatoes Blocked from Mexico?
00:00The Legal Battle: Overcoming Trade Barriers
10:00How Diplomacy Finally Opened the Mexican Market
25:31Transcript
Transcript
Erika Beras: kay, so does this sound like you? You love NPR's podcasts, you wish you could get more of all your favorite shows, and you want to support NPR's mission could get create a more informed public public mission. Ifreate more informed public that ...