US poultry industry urges action on Russia trade relations

The National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and USA Poultry & Egg Export Council joined more than 500 other trade associations and businesses under the umbrella of the Coalition for U.S.-Russia Trade in calling on Congress to “move quickly” in the days ahead to approve legislation enacting permanent normal trade relations with Russia.
In a letter to President Barack Obama, the coalition urged the president to work with Congress to ensure the passage of Russia’s removal from the Jackson-Vanik legislation and establishment of permanent normal trade relations with Russia. Russia acceded to the World Trade Organization in August, and the coalition said that U.S. competitors in Europe, China and elsewhere are happy to “step in and take advantage of meeting Russia's needs not only in infrastructure and modernization of its industrial base, but also the demands of a growing consumer class that is highly educated and appreciates quality.”
The coalition said that until Congress passes Russia trade relation legislation, U.S. executives will be relegated to an “observer” status as foreign competitors gain contracts that could lock in commercial relationships for years. “Since Russia already officially entered into the WTO last summer, PNTR will ensure that poultry companies can take full advantage of new business opportunities, that Russia’s commitments in the WTO are enforced and that American businesses are on an equal playing field in the Russian market,” said members of the coalition. “Continuing to export $300 million of poultry to Russia annually will provide better incomes for more U.S. workers and additional poultry to be produced by a growing number of family farmers across America.”
Other poultry interests signing the letters include: Penn Ag Industry Poultry Council, The Poultry Federation, Sanderson Farms, Simmons Prepared Foods, Texas Turkey Federation, Virginia Poultry Federation, Wisconsin Poultry and Egg Industry Association, California Poultry Federation, Case Farms, Chicken and Egg Association of Minnesota, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., Georgia Poultry Federation, Iowa Turkey Federation, Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, North Carolina Poultry Federation and Ohio Poultry Federation.

Russian pork, poultry production on rise

Efforts by the Russian government to increase domestic meat production to replace imported meat on the domestic market appear to be succeeding, with both pork and poultry production showing increases in the first half of this year as compared to the same period in 2008.
Russia produced 4.1 million metric tons liveweight of meat in the January to June period, a year-on-year increase of 6%. Pork and poultry production increased by 8% and 12% respectively year-on-year in the first half of this year. Russia's agriculture minister, Yelena Skrynnik, said the increase in meat production should facilitate a reduction in meat imports of more than 25%.

US, Russia hold talks to ease trade restrictions

As a first step toward persuading U.S. Congress to repeal the controversial Jackson-Vanik amendment, Russia must lift bans on poultry and pork imports from the U.S., Commerce Secretary Gary Locke was quoted in The Washington Post.
Locke's remarks came after two days of discussions with Russian officials during President Obama's visit to Moscow. The 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment prohibits trade relations with communist countries that restrict emigration.
However, Tom Malinowski, Washington advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, said Russian trade concessions alone will not persuade Congress to repeal the amendment as it sees Jackson–Vanik as a tool for expressing disapproval of human rights abuses in the former Soviet nation.

USTR, USDA finalize agreement with Russia on U.S. poultry quotas

The U.S. Trade Representatives Office (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have concluded consultations that amended the five-year bilateral meat and poultry agreement with the Russian government. The jointly-signed statement by the two governments today marks a critically important step in the continuation of poultry and meat trade with Russia.
The protocol agreement between the Russian and U.S. governments reduces the 2009 poultry quota to 750,000 tons. The new agreement will allow the U.S. 78.8% of the total Russian poultry import quota. The USA Poultry & Egg Export Council said it expects this percentage level to be maintained in future years as Russia balances its import requirements with domestic production.The protocol officially rescinded chlorine restrictions on U.S. poultry imports until at least January 2010 and set a new quota level for poultry and pork.
There are no assurances beyond 2009 on chlorine restrictions, but the U.S. poultry industry and U.S. government will be working to find a permanent solution to this issue.U.S. government officials received assurances from Russia’s chief sanitary officer with the Ministry of Health that moisture and frozen packaging requirements will also not affect U.S. trade in 2009.
The U.S. and Russian governments have also agreed to address a number of plant inspection issues. Russia’s Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Services (VPSS) has indicated it will conduct meat and poultry plant audits as early as February, but the U.S. government said that this should not be done without further agreement on inspection protocol, noting that the previous protocol still remains in effect.
The Russian Federation is the number one export market for U.S. poultry meat and the fourth largest market for U.S. pork. U.S. exports of poultry and pork to the Russian Federation reached $720 million and $191 million, respectively, in 2007.