Max Cleland: “I want to express my relief that the long standoff with the Russian Government over American poultry exports has finally…”

“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.”