Russia: Bilaterall Agreement Benefits Exporters
Russia
Bilateral Agreement To Benefit Meat Exporters
A bilateral access agreement was signed yesterday that will provide significant benefits to U.S. meat producers and exporters. The agreement was signed by U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab and Russian Minister of Trade and Economic Development German Gerf in Hanoi.
Until 2009 trade in beef and pork between Russia and the United States will be governed by the agreement that went into effect in 2005, which established tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for beef and pork, and a 15 percent tariff for U.S. high quality beef. Bilateral negotiations in 2009 will determine if the TRQs will remain, or if Russia will provide tariff-only treatment for meat.
The bilateral agreement also applies international norms and science-based measures that address impediments to U.S. beef and pork and related by-products, including application of internationally recognized SPS measures.
Russia has imported 61,463 metric tons of pork through Sept. 5 of this year, worth more than $120 million. Since December, 2003, Russia has had a ban on U.S. beef. Before the ban, Russia was the largest export market for U.S. beef livers, and imported more than 6,4700 metric tons of U.S. beef and beef variety meats that year, valued at more than $54.4 million.
The new agreement resolves long-standing bilateral issues related to agricultural trade. It is also an important piece to Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), marking a significant milestone in Russia’s bid to join the organization. Russia and other WTO members must complete the multilateral aspect of negotiations before Russia becomes a WTO member and its WTO commitments go into effect. Congress will also need to enact legislation terminating application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Russia and authorizing the grant of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to that country.
Russia
Bilateral Agreement To Benefit Meat Exporters
A bilateral access agreement was signed yesterday that will provide significant benefits to U.S. meat producers and exporters. The agreement was signed by U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab and Russian Minister of Trade and Economic Development German Gerf in Hanoi.
Until 2009 trade in beef and pork between Russia and the United States will be governed by the agreement that went into effect in 2005, which established tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for beef and pork, and a 15 percent tariff for U.S. high quality beef. Bilateral negotiations in 2009 will determine if the TRQs will remain, or if Russia will provide tariff-only treatment for meat.
The bilateral agreement also applies international norms and science-based measures that address impediments to U.S. beef and pork and related by-products, including application of internationally recognized SPS measures.
Russia has imported 61,463 metric tons of pork through Sept. 5 of this year, worth more than $120 million. Since December, 2003, Russia has had a ban on U.S. beef. Before the ban, Russia was the largest export market for U.S. beef livers, and imported more than 6,4700 metric tons of U.S. beef and beef variety meats that year, valued at more than $54.4 million.
The new agreement resolves long-standing bilateral issues related to agricultural trade. It is also an important piece to Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), marking a significant milestone in Russia’s bid to join the organization. Russia and other WTO members must complete the multilateral aspect of negotiations before Russia becomes a WTO member and its WTO commitments go into effect. Congress will also need to enact legislation terminating application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Russia and authorizing the grant of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to that country.