Strong Demand for U.S. Meat in Russia, but Challenges Remain

Strong Demand for U.S. Meat in Russia, but Challenges Remain

Strong Demand for U.S. Meat in Russia, but Challenges Remain

I’m KayDee Gilkey with Open Range.

The World Food Moscow Food Exhibition was recently held and Thad Lively, U.S. Meat Export Federation Senior President for Trade Access was there and met with trade officials and meat industry leaders to discuss the current business climate for U.S. pork and beef.

Lively: “It’s been a good year for us with both beef and pork exports to Russia. And I’d say the atmosphere at the World Food Show for example was very positive and very energentic. Lots of business being done around the U.S. MEF stand at the show. Great deal of interest being shown by our customers and importers there. I would say that our position in the market there is as good as I’ve seen it for several years.”

Lively says Russia’s demand for U.S. meat is very strong, as indicated by this year’s export statistics: Though August, U.S. beef exports to Russia were 8 percent ahead of last year’s record pace in volume (nearly 117 million pounds) and 31 percent higher in value ($214 million).

Lively adds that Russia made significant market access concessions for U.S. beef and pork as part of its negotiations to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), including a larger tariff rate quota for U.S. beef muscle cuts and reduced duty rates for pork imports. But he says WTO membership has not eliminated all barriers facing U.S. meat as it enters Russia.

Lively: “But where we have a lot of a concerns frankly is with the whole area of veterinarian controls.”

 

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