USDA receives assurances on poultry imports to Russia

WASHINGTON - Secretary Ann M. Veneman today said she again was given solid assurances by Russian officials that poultry trade between the countries was resuming. In a telephone meeting, Veneman said she was assured by Minister Aleksey Gordeyev that steps were being taken to return trade to normal levels, on the eve of the Summit meeting between President George W. Bush and President Vladimir Putin. <br> <br> Veneman stated, "We welcome this apparent progress in resolving immediate issues, and we are cautiously optimistic that trading volume will expand in the near future."<br> <br> Veneman was assured by Minister Gordeyev that two ships long delayed in the port of St. Petersburg can now be unloaded. The ships are carrying about 15,000 tons of U.S. poultry products. As a further positive indication, Veneman noted that two additional U.S. ships now are bound for Russia carrying product to be imported under the new import licensing regime. Gordeyev noted in today's call that import licenses for over 147,000 tons of poultry had now been issued.<br> <br> Veneman said that she and Gordeyev are discussing dates for a Russian team of veterinary specialists to travel to the United States to begin negotiating a new veterinary certificate and to discuss avian influenza issues. Details regarding arrival dates and composition of the delegation are to be determined in the next few days. <br> <br> Veneman further reported that the two officials will meet next month at the World Food Summit in Rome next month. "The purpose of our meeting will be to move beyond the poultry issue and begin exploration of a framework for longer term cooperation," Veneman said. <br> <br> "Since lifting the poultry ban on April 15, we have not been able to resume normal trade because of the continued high level of uncertainty. Today's discussion with Minister Gordeyev is reassuring that our poultry products can again flow to the Russian market," Veneman said.<br> <br> Russia imported about 1.2 million tons of poultry last year, over 80% of which was supplied by the United States. Russia is the largest market for U.S. poultry products.<br>

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