New agriculture minister Arata Takebe has said that thorough “scientific discussions” must be held on a plan to lift the ban on imports of fresh potatoes from the United States.

The discussions will take “considerable time,” he also said in an interview with Jiji Press on Monday.

Many Japanese producers have expressed concerns about the plan, including those in Hokkaido, which includes Takebe’s electoral district and accounts for about 80% of domestic potato production.

The plan “should progress after thorough scientific and technical discussion,” he said.…