Nathan Deal: “on March 10 of this year, Russia imposed an export and import ban on United States poultry. Even though an agreement was…”

“on March 10 of this year, Russia imposed an export and import ban on United States poultry. Even though an agreement was reached with Russia supposedly on March 30 and they announced that the embargo had been lifted on April 15, the truth is that no American poultry has been shipped into Russia. In fact, over 20,000 metric tons that had been shipped prior to the embargo are still sitting in Russian ports waiting to be unloaded. In my State of Georgia poultry has a significant impact of some $10 billion a year, the largest segment of our agricultural economy. Over $300 million a year are exported. Mr. Speaker, I think we should understand that the Russian embargo is costing American poultry companies $25 million a day. It is time that this Congress send a message to our trading partners that we expect them to be fair. Mr. President, as you go to visit with President Putin, I hope you will take the message that this Congress is paying attention and that if Russia wants the lifting of the Jackson-Vanik rules, and if they want admission into the World Trade Organization, it is time to stop playing games with the poultry issue and end the embargo.”