U.S. stews over Russia’s meat import restriction

   The U.S. government expressed its irritation with Russia over the country’s new requirement that U.S. beef and pork shipments be tested and certified free of the feed additive ractopamine.
   “The United States is very concerned that Russia has taken these actions, which appear to be inconsistent with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization,” said U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a joint statement.
   “The United States calls on Russia to suspend these new measures and restore market access for U.S. beef and pork products,” they said. “The United States sought, and Russia committed as part of its WTO accession package, to ensure that it adhere rigorously to WTO requirements and that it would use international standards unless it had a risk assessment to justify use of a more stringent standard. Especially in light of its commitment to use international standards, this is an important opportunity for Russia to demonstrate that it takes its WTO commitments seriously.”
   Two-way agricultural trade between the United States and Russia was valued at about $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2012, with American farm exports accounting for 97 percent of the total, the USDA reported.
   The Senate last week also passed legislation to grant Russia permanent normal trade relations with the United States. The legislation has headed to President Obama’s desk for his signature.