Vilsack and Kirk Discuss Success in Russia
Ongoing efforts to reopen other markets are continuing.
Compiled by staff
Published: Mar 18, 2010
The United States and Russia reached an agreement earlier this month that reopened the Russian market to U.S. pork. This week Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack had some news on when U.S. pork might officially re-enter the Russian marketplace.
"I learned that we likely see a renewal of pork to Russia within the next week as a result of the actions of the USTR's office and USDA in reopening that market after the H1N1," Vilsack said.
USDA and the USTR are still working to reopen the Russian market to U.S. poultry, the Chinese market to U.S. pork, and other Asian markets to beef.
"The Secretary himself and I have both been to Russia and to China, we have teams in Japan, we continue to engage our friends in Taiwan and we will work collaboratively to open up all of those markets back to our beef, pork, and poultry products," said U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.
Secretary Vilsack will actually head to Japan the first full week of April to promote U.S. agricultural exports. He says his mission is to push hard to open markets and bolster an open, rules-based international trading system that benefits consumers and U.S. farmers and ranchers.
Vilsack told reporters this week that beef trade will be on the agenda.
"Our hope is to continue the dialogue that has been continuing through the U.S. Trade Representatives office and our office with the Japanese," Vilsack said. "Looking forward to an opportunity to discuss how that market, which has been closed for a significant period of time, can be reopened."
These efforts are all part of the National Export Initiative President Obama announced during his State of the Union Address.
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