Fw: Lincoln, Chambliss Call on President Obama to Address Russia TradeBarriers with President Medvedev

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From: "Rowe, Courtney (Agriculture)" <Courtney_Rowe@agriculture.senate.gov>

Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:23:07 -0500

Subject: Lincoln, Chambliss Call on President Obama to Address Russia Trade Barriers with President Medvedev

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2010

Contact: Courtney Rowe, Lincoln, (202) 224-2035

Erin Hamm, Chambliss, (202) 224-4728

 

Lincoln, Chambliss Call on President Obama to Address Russia Trade Barriers with President Medvedev

 

Restrictions could negatively impact nearly 500,000 U.S. jobs

 

Washington – U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln, (D-Ark.), Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss, (R-Ga.), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and 22 other Senators today sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to address Russian trade barriers on U.S. poultry imports during his upcoming meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The Senators emphasized that internationally recognized science methodology has proven U.S. poultry to be safe and that current restrictions are unwarranted.  

 

"Our poultry producers are required by USDA to meet very stringent food safety standards, which help them produce a safe and high-quality product. The Russians have failed to supply a reasonable, scientific explanation for restricting their market to U.S. poultry and we believe that their citing of safety concerns as reason for their trade barriers is baseless. The current economic climate has left many producers struggling and a continued absence from the Russian market, which is worth $800 million annually to American producers, would only increase the economic uncertainty our poultry farmers already face. President Obama's meeting with President Medvedev offers a crucial opportunity to address this issue with the seriousness it deserves," the Senators said.

 

Over the last three years, U.S. poultry exports to Russia averaged more than $800 million in value, making Russia the single largest U.S. export market.  The poultry industry represents over 500,000 jobs in the United States.

 

Full text of the letter is below.

 

 

June 21, 2010

 

The Honorable Barack Obama

President of the United States

The White House

Washington, DC  20500

 

Dear Mr. President:

 

Next week, you are scheduled to meet with Russian President Medvedev for talks on improved collaboration between our two nations, in advance of the G-8 summit in Canada.  While in some areas the level of cooperation between our two countries has improved, irritants remain in that relationship that require attention at the highest level.  For the past five months, the Russian Federation has blocked poultry imports from the United States over the use of chlorine rinses in the production process.  We believe the stalemate in the negotiations requires the attention of the leaders of both countries.  We urge you to include this issue on the agenda of your meeting with President Medvedev to ensure that importation rules are based on science and consistent with international standards.

 

Over the last three years, U.S. poultry exports to Russia averaged more than $800 million in value, making Russia our single largest export market.  The poultry industry in this country represents over 500,000 jobs in the United States and has a significant impact on countless other communities across the country. 

 

Since 1990, Russia has imported U.S. poultry that was processed using chlorinated water to reduce pathogens and enhance food safety.  Throughout this period, Russian authorities did not express any concern.  Therefore, the current ban seems arbitrary and capricious.  Science has shown the use of chlorine solutions to be a safe and cost effective way to maintain food safety during poultry processing.  Additionally, we understand Russia is still buying poultry from other suppliers, such as Brazil, where some facilities use the same process as U.S. facilities, without guarantees that they are not using chlorine solutions. This disparity appears to be contrary to the Russian government's assertions that its actions are being taken out of concern for the safety of its population. 

 

The cumulative effect of the actions taken by Russia's government has been to keep U.S. products entirely out of the Russian market.  We believe the United States and Russia should work together to promote trade between our two countries and lower barriers that undermine the bilateral relationship.  Your meeting with the Russian President in advance of the upcoming G-8 summit offers a crucial opportunity to address this issue with the seriousness it deserves.  We urge you to use all means at your disposal to address this situation and we thank you for working with us. 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Senator Blanche Lincoln, Chairman

Senator Saxby Chambliss, Ranking Member

Senator Kit Bond

Senator Barbara Boxer

Senator Richard Burr

Senator Ben Cardin

Senator Tom Carper

Senator Thad Cochran

Senator John Cornyn

Senator Al Franken

Senator Kay Hagan

Senator Orrin Hatch

Senator Johnny Isakson

Senator Mike Johanns

Senator Ted Kaufman

Senator Amy Klobuchar

Senator Mary Landrieu

Senator Richard Lugar

Senator Claire McCaskill

Senator Barbara Mikulski

Senator Mark Pryor

Senator Debbie Stabenow

Senator John Thune

Senator Mark Warner

Senator Jim Webb

 

 

 

 

cc:        The Honorable Ron Kirk, United States Trade Representative

The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture

 

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