Source:  Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 7/5/11

Eighty-three U.S. representatives are pushing Russia to do its part to ensure accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In a letter to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyakto in Washington, the members of the House of Representatives said they are hoping that Russia revises its current sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements and comply with its future obligations as a member of the WTO.

The representatives also noted that the June 23 letter that the requirements, which they said are “fundamentally inconsistent with the core provisions of the WTO SPS Agreement,” are being used to restrict imports of U.S. agricultural products.

Among them are outdated slaughter plant hygiene rules and standards for controlling food-borne pathogens that are not science-based.

Russia is a large and growing export market for American beef, pork and poultry, but its current requirements are holding back that growth, the representatives argue. For example, U.S. poultry exports decreased to $316 million in 2010 from $762 million a year earlier – largely because of new Russian regulations on poultry imports.

Similarly, pork exports to Russia have declined 60 percent since 2008, the letter said.

“Once such an agreement is concluded, we look forward to working to repeal Jackson-Vanik and pass Permanent Normal Trade Relations for Russia,” the letter said.

The Russian government has scheduled negotiations with the USDA for July 8.

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