International Egg and Poultry Review
US - By the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service - This is a weekly report looking at international developments concerning the poultry industry, this week covering Free Trade Area of the Americas and Russian Meat Import Quotas.
Free Trade Area of the Americas
The VIII Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Ministerial meeting
ended on November 20, 2003 with the adoption of a broad and vague
declaration forwarded by the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC).
The document outlines a free trade region that allows member
countries to choose which commitments to accept or decline. The
agreement keeps the talks alive, but postpones decisions on market
access and intellectual property rights. The issue of agricultural
subsidies and dumping will be resolved by the World Trade
Organization.
The FTAA Trade Negotiations Committee will meet in February 2004
where much of the real work will be carried out. The 34 countries of the
Americas (excluding Cuba) would be the world’s largest free trade
area, a common market that serves 800 million consumers.
Industrialized countries are seeking lower tariffs, protection of foreign
investments and respect for copyrights, while the developing countries
want more protection for their neophyte industries, particularly
agriculture. The final declaration is available at http://www.ftaa-alca.org
Sources: BRIDGES Weekly Trade News Digest, U.S. Trade
Representative, various news services
Russian Meat Import Quotas
Russia set a three year poultry quota in January of 2003 equivalating
to a limit of 1,050,000 metric tons (MT) of poultry imports annually.
Quotas actually went into effect in May of 2003 and were prorated at
744,000 MT for the first year. The U.S. was allowed to sell 553,500 MT,
the EU 139,900 MT, Brazil 33,300 MT, China 3,100 MT, and other
countries 14,200 MT.
On December 2, 2003 Russia set poultry meat import quotas for
2004. Out of a total of 1.05 million metric tons, the U.S. will receive a
quota of 771,900 MT; the EU, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus, and Malta
combined will have 205,000 MT; Paraguay 5,000 MT; and remaining
other countries 68,000 MT.
Russia restricted poultry imports to help its’ domestic industry expand.
Poultry production in the first three quarters rose 10 percent, in
comparison to the targeted 15 percent.
Source:Various news sources.
To view the full report, including tables please click here
Source: USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service - 2nd December 2003.