[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 65 (Monday, May 20, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  LIFTING THE RUSSIAN POULTRY EMBARGO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate what the gentleman has said 
and what he brings before the House here tonight about the embargo and 
how the Russians are holding up the shipment of poultry products from 
Georgia.

                              {time}  2045

  We all in Georgia have poultry plants within our districts, and I do 
have a letter I would like to submit to the Record, a letter that the 
delegation has sent to the President asking him to involve with the 
President of Russia on his visit later this week to talk about this 
very important issue because not only will it have an effect on the 
poultry business, but it will have an effect on trade between our two 
countries and could be negative, but it could also be turned into a 
positive position.
  At this point, I will insert the letters into the Record.
                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 17, 2002.
     President George W. Bush,
     The White House, Pennsylvania Ave.,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear President Bush: We, the members of the Georgia 
     Congressional delegation, appreciate your Administration's 
     active engagement to restore U.S. poultry exports to Russia 
     to normal, pre-embargo trade levels. Since there remain a 
     number of hurdles in achieving this goal, we are writing to 
     request your continued personal involvement so that this 
     issue can be resolved as timely as possible.
       With poultry contributing one-fourth of total U.S. exports 
     to Russia, the severe trade disruption has exacerbated the 
     trade imbalance Russia has with the United States. The 
     disruption of poultry exports to Russia has caused U.S. 
     chicken companies to experience a cost of over $25 million 
     per week in terms of lost sales opportunities overseas and 
     depressed domestic prices for chicken. Further, the price 
     impact has rippled to competing meats, such as pork and beef, 
     because the chicken leg quarters originally destined for 
     Russia are now competing with other meats in U.S. 
     supermarkets. Corn and soybean farmers are beginning to feel 
     the economic impact too, as chicken companies start to adjust 
     their production plans in the wake of the depressed Russian 
     market for U.S. poultry.
       Georgia is the Nation's leading poultry state so the 
     economic damage is being felt more severely than in many 
     other states. Also, with much of Georgia's exports being 
     shipped to Russia, the problem is compounded.
       Of particular concern is Russia's demand that a new U.S./
     Russian veterinary agreement be negotiated and agreed-upon by 
     June 29, 2002. Such a demand will be very difficult to meet 
     for a number of reasons. On April 30, 2002, Russia proposed a 
     new, revised veterinary agreement to replace the 1996 
     agreement. This version contains many unworkable provisions, 
     such as prohibition against the feeding of genetically 
     modified grains and oilseeds, banning of many FDA-approved 
     antibiotics, and other so-called sanitary requirements that 
     do not improve food safety but are, in fact, potential non-
     tariff trade barriers for U.S. poultry.
       We are very concerned that Russia has not accepted the idea 
     that international trade is a two-way path. Russia has a more 
     than two to one favorable trade balance with the United 
     States.
           Sincerely,
         Jack Kingston, Johnny Isakson, John Linder, Charlie 
           Norwood, Cynthia McKinney, John Lewis, Saxby Chambliss, 
           Mac Collins, Bob Barr, Nathan Deal, Sanford Bishop, 
           Members of Congress.
                                  ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 13, 2002.
     Hon. Robert B. Zoellick,
     U.S. Trade Representative, Department of State, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Ambassador Zoellick: I am writing today to express my 
     concerns about the continuing ban by Russia on U.S. poultry 
     and poultry products. The Russian government, despite an 
     announcement that it was ending its embargo on April 15, 
     2002, is continuing to prevent U.S. poultry and poultry 
     products form entering the country. According to some 
     estimates, no U.S. poultry products have been imported into 
     Russia since the announcement was made that the ban was being 
     lifted. Also, at least 20,000 metric tons of U.S. poultry 
     products, shipped before the embargo was announced on March 
     10, are still at Russian ports waiting to be unloaded. This 
     ongoing ban on U.S. poultry is costing producers in this 
     country at least $25 million dollars per week.
       Sending $308 million in poultry and poultry products abroad 
     in 2000, Georgia is the leading exporter of poultry and 
     poultry products in the United States. On behalf of the 
     growers and 18,000 employees who process chicken in Georgia. 
     I request that you contact the Russian government and urge 
     them to quickly end this de facto embargo of U.S. poultry.
       I appreciate your on going efforts to ensure fair trade 
     practices and international market access for U.S. products.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Mac Collins,
     Member of Congress.
                                  ____



                                   Georgia Poultry Federation,

                                     Gainsville, GA, May 15, 2002.
     Hon. Mac Collins,
     Member of Congress, Longworth House Office Bldg., Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Congressman: On Monday, Congressman Jack Kingston 
     volunteered to coordinate a Georgia delegation letter to the 
     President and other key officials about the Russian situation 
     and we were very appreciative of this.
       Russia continues to ban U.S. exports of poultry through 
     various unreasonable trade demands. This unfair situation is 
     having a tremendous impact on the poultry industry in Georgia 
     and if not reversed will have a serious impact on all 
     agriculture in our State and Nation.
       As mentioned before, even with full poultry exports, Russia 
     ships produces valued at $6.5 billion to the U.S. while 
     receiving goods valued at only $2.7 million from the U.S. 
     This 2.4 times ratio is not good for the U.S. balance of 
     payments or for poultry and agriculture. It is a very 
     dangerous trend.
       We hope that you will join with Congressman Kingston and 
     others and sign this very important letter.
           Sincerely yours,
     Abit Massey.

                          ____________________