NCC Welcomes USTR Announcement on Poultry Quota Talks with Russia - US - The National Chicken Council and America’s chicken producers are pleased with the announcement by the U.S. Trade Representative that the issue of quotas on U.S. poultry exports to Russia has been resolved in a satisfactory manner.

Ambassador Allen Johnson of the Office of U.S. Trade Representative negotiated improvements in the Russian quota system. The revised quotas will give our companies better sales opportunities with Russia than has been possible under the existing quota system, as well as a more predictable framework for the future.

We greatly appreciate the leadership shown by President Bush, his Cabinet, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, Ambassador Johnson, and their staffs, in reaching a favorable agreement. The National Chicken Council is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the government on this issue.

Trade with Russia involves more than import quotas, however. We are still very concerned that differences remain over technical inspection requirements. We hope that these will be speedily resolved on a scientific basis.

The National Chicken Council represents integrated chicken producer-processors, the companies that produce, process and market chickens. Member companies of NCC account for approximately 95 percent of the chicken sold in the United States.

Source: The National Chicken Council - 30th September 2003