August 23, 2006

Russian minister proposes to revise US chicken import quotas

Russian Minister of Agriculture Alexey Gordeev has proposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday (Aug 23) to review the 80-percent quota on US chicken exports to Russia in response to the US's continued refusal to endorse Russia's accession to the WTO.

Russia's grain harvest at present is 47 million tonnes, down 6 million tonnes from last year's levels. Fuel prices are on the rise once again and the government would be able to compensate producers if necessary, he said.

Russia has also become increasingly self sufficient in meat and milk production, with its overall herd and flock rising 3.6 percent in the first half of the year.

This led into the topic of American chicken imports. Currently, up to 80 percent of Russia's 1.15 million tonnes of chicken imports come from the US, he said. 

Gordeev noted that Russia's favouritism towards American poultry was tied to Russia's membership in the WTO.

However, given the current situation, Gordeev said Russia should reconsider the quota, with Brazil being the likely candidate for alternative sources of poultry.