July 11, 2009

Russia to keep meat import quotas up to 2017

Russia is likely to maintain its meat import quotas up to 2017 despite protests from the US and the EU, according to Ivan Obolentsev, chairman of the Russian Agro-Industrial Union.

Billions of dollars from both Russian and foreign currency have been invested in the industry, and billions of roubles of state subsidies are provided, he said.

Therefore, Russia hopes for understanding from trade partners that they will strictly regulate the access of imports through customs and tariff quotas, which will be less than 30 percent on average, said Obolentsev.

Russia has been regulating meat imports since the spring of 2003.

A Russian government official said beef imports grew 17.4 percent in Russia while domestic production has declined in the first four months of the year.

First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov will chair a meeting in Tyumen region on Friday to consider measures to improve the situation.