Weekly Audio Seng on Russia

June 9, 2009 - In this U.S. Meat Export Federation weekly audio report, President and CEO Philip Seng discusses the recent trade difficulties the U.S. meat industry has experienced with Russia.

Russia was an excellent market for both U.S. beef and pork in 2008. But for the past several months, Russia has been limiting the industry’s ability to export pork to Russia by delisting individual processing plants and storage facilities. More recently, Russia has suspended access for pork from seven U.S. states and all meat from four additional states in response to the A-H1N1 Influenza outbreak. While Seng is encouraged by the visit being paid to Russia by U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, he says resolution of these issues will require collaboration by regulatory agencies from both countries.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.