| 10/2/2003 Meat Groups Cheer New Russia-US Trade Accord - 9/29 AgOnline Russia is the largest export market for US poultry and the 5th and 7th largest markets for US pork and beef, respectively. US poultry exports reached approximately $700 million in 2001, but totaled less than $400 million in 2002 because of Russian restrictions on imports based on concerns over food safety issues. A new veterinary certificate was agreed on earlier in the year. Pork and beef exports have approached $100 million in recent years. The agreement preserves or expands US market shares for poultry, pork and beef exports based on historical levels and provides for growth in all three of these markets. National Cattlemen's Beef Association is calling the agreement between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin "a ground-breaking agreement." NCBA, US Meat Export Federation, and the American Meat Institute are applauding the move, which they say "will provide potentially lucrative new export market opportunities for American producers and establish an important foundation on which future working relationships can be built." "For cattle producers, Russia can provide a fine market for US beef products," says Eric Davis, NCBA president. "Particularly important to us is that certain high-quality meats recognized under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) so-called 'Hilton' definition are exempted from the quota system," says Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. Beef variety meats are also permanently exempted from the TRQ. The agreement will benefit the bottom line of US pork producers by increasing US exports of pork and other meat to Russia, according to National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Presiden t Jon Caspers. "The agreement ann ounced today establishes a country specific quota that will help shield US pork from dumped and subsidized pork exported by Brazil and the European Union to Russia," Caspers says. "Further, the agreement should result in the continued flow of US poultry to Russia." "Our producers were really harmed by Russia's restrictions on US poultry exports. Russia is the US poultry industry's number one export market and the Russian restrictions backed up the poultry supply in the US and brought down the prices of US pork and live hogs," Caspers says. The US Trade Representative says the National Pork Producers Council, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Chicken Council, USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, American Meat Institute, and US Meat Export Federation are all in support of the new accord. NCBA points out the agreement sets the stage for Russia to become a member of the World Trade Organization. Related Link: http://www.agriculture.com |
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