May 20, 2004

US Poultry Industry Protests Russia Trade Barriers
 

Russia's bid to become a member of the World Trade Organization should be put on hold until Moscow eliminates trade barriers to American poultry, a U.S. industry official urged Congress on Wednesday.

The negotiations on Russia's entry into the trade group should be postponed "until Russia fully demonstrates it will abide by the agreements and understandings involving poultry," said Greg Lee, international president of Tyson Foods Inc.

Russia is the largest foreign buyer of American poultry, mainly cheap leg quarters. Over the past few years, Russia has temporarily suspended some or all of its chicken imports, citing health and safety concerns that some in the U.S. industry claimed were trumped up to help Russian poultry producers.

Those poultry trade problems at times have drawn the attention of top U.S. officials, including U.S. President George W. Bush during past meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Most recently, Russia has decertified 11 U.S. poultry plants, saying they carried dangerous pathogens.

Moscow's action threatens the ability of American companies to fill the 771,900 metric tons of poultry allowed by a Russian import quota for the United States, Lee told the House Agriculture Committee, which held a hearing on agriculture trade issues.

Lee also heads the National Chicken Council, an industry lobbying group.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman on Wednesday discussed concerns about poultry and beef trade with Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev, said USDA spokesman Ed Loyd. Russia banned American beef in December after the discovery of mad cow disease in Washington state, as many U.S. trading partners have done.

Loyd said technical experts from both countries will discuss veterinary and sanitation matters next week and in June, when a Russian team visits the United States.

But Loyd said he could give no timetable for the two countries to work out differences over poultry or beef trade.

Meanwhile, Russia and the European Union are close to a deal on Russia's entry into the WTO, EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said on Wednesday in Brussels.

Moscow has been holding consultations with major trading partners, including the EU, United States, Japan and China, as part of its bid to enter the WTO.

On Monday, a spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office said the Bush administration still has "strong concerns" about copyright piracy in Russia, as well as problems with trade in financial services, telecommunications and Russian tariff levels.