[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 112 (Monday, September 9, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S8369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            POULTRY EXPORTS

  Mr. CLELAND. Madam President, I want to express my relief that the 
long standoff with the Russian Government over American poultry exports 
has finally been resolved. On March 1, 2002, the Russian Government 
instituted a ban on American poultry imports and cited safety concerns 
about U.S. processing procedures. Although the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture responded to those concerns point-by-point, the ban 
continued until August 23.
  Russia is the largest market for U.S. chickens, with annual sales of 
about one million tons valued at $600 million. This trade dispute had 
cost Georgia poultry producers, the most productive in the country, 
approximately $100 million a year.
  After many efforts to resolve this embargo, American poultry 
producers may resume selling chickens in Russia. I had joined with many 
of my colleagues on multiple occasions in contacting members of the 
administration about this unfair trade practice. For example, I 
cosigned a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Zoellick with 16 other 
Senators on March 4. Soon after, on March 14, I personally wrote to the 
President on behalf of Georgia poultry producers. On March 22, I 
cosigned a letter to the President with nine of my Senate colleagues. 
On May 9, I personally wrote Trade Representative Zoellick on behalf of 
Georgia's poultry producers. Again, on May 17, I cosigned a letter to 
the President with 51 of my Senate colleagues. Finally, on July 2, I 
cosigned a letter to the President with 30 other Senators about the 
serious economic damage that the Russian trade block was having on the 
American economy.
  I believe that the continued focus by members of Congress, as well as 
the diligence of the administration, helped bring about the successful 
resolution of this ban. At a time of economic uncertainty, the poultry 
producers of my State will certainly appreciate the reopening of this 
important market.

                          ____________________