The American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomes the introduction today of a Senate bill that would graduate Russia from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to the Trade Act of 1974, and authorize President Barack Obama to establish permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with the world’s sixth largest economy. ASA urges the immediate passage of the bipartisan bill introduced by Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), John Kerry (D-MA), John McCain (R-AZ) and John Thune (R-SD), which enables the U.S. to take advantage of the many market opening commitments that form Russia’s accession package to the World Trade Organization, to which the country was formally invited in late 2011.
Russia is a leading export market for U.S. soy, meat, poultry, egg and dairy products, importing more than $770 million in these products last year.
“Today’s announcement from Sens. Baucus, Kerry, McCain and Thune is an exciting one for farmers,” says ASA President Steve Wellman, a soybean farmer from Syracuse, NE. “As Russia’s economy and purchasing power grows, Russian demand for soy products, poultry, pork, dairy and eggs grows, as well, and that’s great news for American soybean farmers.”
Russia is home to more than 140 million consumers and a fast-growing economy. As part of its accession to the WTO, Russia will be obligated to bind its agricultural tariffs, adding more predictability to the trading relationship and opening export opportunities for the U.S. agricultural industry. WTO membership will also require Russia to adhere to internationally recognized scientific standards when regulating meat imports, thereby ensuring greater predictability for U.S. exporters seeking to supply the Russian consumer market.
The establishment of PNTR with Russia is different from a free trade agreement, in that the move will not require the U.S. to provide any market access benefits, lower any U.S. tariffs, or make other changes to our trade laws as a result of Russia’s WTO accession.