Senators allege Russia reneging on poultry agreement

WASHINGTON — Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has joined more than two dozen senators, both Democrats and Republicans, and sent a letter to the Russian government expressing their concern regarding Russia’s failure to fully honor its recent commitment to allow U.S. poultry products back into Russia.

President Obama and Russian President Medvedev reportedly came to an agreement on June 24 of this year to re-open the Russian market to U.S. poultry. However, since that agreement was reached, Russia has attempted to impose further restrictions on U.S. poultry products rather than move forward to implement the agreement the two presidents reached in June.

The senators urged the Russian government to follow through on the commitment made by Medvedev and immediately allow full importation of U.S. poultry products into Russia without further delay.

“I trust that the pledge made by the Russian President was made in good faith and that Russian markets will be open to poultry imports from states like Mississippi,” said Cochran.

Over the last three years, U.S. poultry exports to Russia averaged more than $800 million in value, making Russia the single largest U.S. export market. The poultry industry represents over 500,000 jobs in the United States.