Reuters | March 27, 2002 | by Chris Stebbins
CHICAGO - U.S. officials are working to resolve Russia's ban on U.S. poultry imports despite recent talks in Moscow that ended without agreement, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said yesterday.
A U.S. delegation left Moscow late last week after two weeks of talks aimed at ending the Russian ban of U.S. poultry imports that began on March 10.
"That doesn't mean that we've let down our guard or quit working on it," Veneman told reporters during a visit to the Chicago Board of Trade. "The U.S. team did come home over the weekend, but they continue to have an exchange of documents and discussions with the ag council that's over in Russia and the ambassador."
Russia banned imports of chicken and turkey from the United States, citing concerns including salmonella contamination and the use of antibiotics in feed. U.S. government and food industry officials say U.S. poultry is safe and have countered that Russia imposed the ban to protect its growing poultry industry.
Some analysts have seen the Russian move as trade retaliation after U.S. President George W. Bush on March 6 announced tariffs on imports of steel that would affect Russia and other exporters.
Bush said on March 13 that resolving the poultry issue was a priority for the administration. Last year the United States shipped about $640 million worth of poultry to Russia, making it the No. 1 U.S. customer.
Veneman said she was disappointed that Russia was not more forthcoming in the talks about lifting the ban, especially in view of Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization.
"If they want to become members of the WTO, which they're seeking to do, seems to me like they're going to have to act like members of the WTO and not put roadblocks that are unjustified trade barriers," she added.
Last Friday, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said he expected a solution to the ban within 30 days.
But Russia's Agriculture Ministry said yesterday the ban would be ended as soon as the United States met Russian meat safety demands presented last week by Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev to U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow.
"We are waiting for a reply from the American side," a Russian Agriculture Ministry spokesman said yesterday.
Russia is demanding that U.S producers found exportingmeat containing salmonella bacteria be excluded from the list of suppliers until they have passed an inspection by both Russian and U.S. veterinarians. It is also demanding safeguards against counterfeit U.S. veterinary certificates.
In 2001, 39 percent of U.S. chicken exports and 17 percent of U.S. turkey exports went to Russia. Russian demand accounted for 8 percent of all U.S. chicken production in 2001 and 2 percent of turkey production, according to U.S. industry data.Reuters:
