Will Russia really axe US chicken imports?

Russia is again seeking to cut off imports of US chicken, possibly halting hundreds of millions of dollars of US exports.

 

If Russia follows through with its plan to reject imported chicken from carcasses that were put through a chlorinated water rinse, it could bring American exports to a stop in January, according to Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC).

 

Russia's opposition to chlorine treatments for chicken carcasses--common in most US processing plants--is not new. Russia threatened to impose the same restriction a year ago, but US industry and government negotiators persuaded the country to postpone implementation for a year while alternatives were discussed. That year is almost up, though, and Russia still appears determined to put the restriction in place for 2010.

 

Russian importers, concerned they may lose access to US product in January, have stepped up orders in the past couple months, said Bill Roenigk, vice president of the National Chicken Council.

 

The concern is very real but Roenigk believes the situation will be resolved and trade will not be stopped.

 

Meanwhile, USDA officials said they are trying to convince Russia not to implement the restriction.