February 20, 2003

Twenty-four agribusiness groups urged the Bush administration to investigate whether restrictions on U.S. meat and poultry imposed by Russia warrant trade action under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The coalition made their case in a letter asking that the office of the U.S. trade representative initiate the investigation rather than each affected industry filing individual petitions.

"We urge you to act promptly given the short timetable before poultry trade could come to a halt and quotas for beef and pork are implemented," the letter stated.

The group said that Russia's actions to restrict imports of beef, pork and poultry and disrupt U.S.- Russia agricultural trade are particularly disturbing given Russia's desire to join the World Trade Organization and the Bush administration's desire to grant Russia permanent normal trade relations status.

Russian inspectors refused to approve U.S. poultry plants during a November visit after an agreement was reached last year with Russia on a new veterinary pact intended to resolve Russia's restrictions on imports of U.S. poultry, the letter says. The value of U.S. poultry exports to Russia was down 40%.

To view the letter, visit: http://www.meatami.com/Template.cfm?Section=EU&NavMenuID=382&template=TaggedContentFile.cfm&NewsID=633.