US response to Russian pork import reduction
US Senator Tom Harkin has issued the following statement in response to an announcement by the Russian government of their intention to reduce their global quota for pork imports by 40 percent, which would in turn reduce US trade under that quota.
Harkin is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
“I am disappointed at the decision of the government of Russia to seek to unilaterally modify terms of the 2005 Meat Agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation.
“If Russia indeed carries through with this decision it will undoubtedly cut off US pork and poultry exports that would otherwise go to Russia. US pork producers are especially vulnerable since the US is currently the second largest source for Russian pork imports.
“This decision violates the terms of the 2005 Meat Agreement, which requires that changes be mutually agreed by both parties, and that is certainly not the case here. I hope the Russian Federation will rethink this decision, and that our own government will take all reasonable steps to obtain a reversal of the decision.”
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