The U.S. is “very disappointed” with Russia's decision to suspend, as of Feb. 11, all imports of U.S. meat, which is produced to the highest safety standards in the world, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday. They accused Russia of disregarding the “extensive and expert scientific studies” conducted by the international food safety standards body Codex Alimentarius Commission, which they said has consistently shown that animal feed containing the additive ractopamine is completely safe for livestock and the humans that consume their meat. Despite repeated U.S. requests to discuss the safety of ractopamine, Russia has “refused to engage in any constructive dialogue” and instead has simply barred the meats from import, they said. They urged Russia to reopen market access immediately and to abide by its WTO obligations.
Russia export controls and sanctions
The use of export controls and sanctions on Russia has surged since the country's invasion of Crimea in 2014, and especially its invasion of Ukraine in in February 2022. Similar export controls and sanctions have been imposed by U.S. allies, including the EU, U.K. and Japan. The following is a listing of recent articles in Export Compliance Daily on export controls and sanctions imposed on Russia:
Although the EU remains committed to further development of the multilateral trading system, “its immediate focus is on developing its bilateral trade relations,” including with the U.S., the European Council said in conclusions following its Feb. 7-8 meeting. Building on progress in recent months, “all efforts should be devoted to pursuing agreements with key partners, prioritising those negotiations that will provide most benefit in terms of growth the jobs,” it said.
On Feb. 8 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The International Trade Administration issued its quarterly list of (i) completed antidumping and countervailing duty scope rulings and (ii) anticircumvention determinations.
On Feb. 5 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
On Feb. 1 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service revised export requirements and plant lists for the following countries for Jan 25-31:
In the Jan. 29-30 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:
The Court of International Trade dismissed JSC Acron’s challenge of the International Trade Administration’s refusal to conduct an antidumping changed circumstances review of solid fertilizer-grade ammonium nitrate from Russia (A-801-811). Acron requested the review to change its AD rate from the 253.98 percent Russia-wide entity rate, assigned while the ITA still considered Russia to be a non-market economy, to an individual market economy rate. After the ITA refused its request, Acron challenged the determination at CIT under 28 USC 1581(i) residual jurisdiction. But CIT said the ITA’s action couldn’t be challenged under Section 1581(i) because residual jurisdiction only applies when no other remedies are available, and Acron could have instead requested an administrative review.
On Jan. 28 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports: