Russian "nyet" to US beef, pork meant no WTO deal
ST PETERSBURG - A dispute over access for U.S. meat to the Russian market helped frustrate U.S.-Russian talks on a deal for Russia to join the World Trade Organization, America's top trade negotiator said on Saturday.
17 July 2006
2 minute read
After intense, late-night negotiations this week, U.S. and Russian officials failed to reach a trade deal in time for the Group of Eight summit this weekend in St. Petersburg, where Russia had hoped to sign a trade accord with the United States.
But officials on both sides said they hoped a deal could be struck in the next few months.
While progress was made on several problems like industrial tariffs and intellectual property rights, a major dispute centered on getting certain U.S. meat exports to Russia, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said.
"It is access provided by the Russians to imports -- their imports of beef and pork" that was a major holdup to a deal, Schwab told reporters at the G8 summit. She said Russia has problems with U.S. regulations on food safety and the health of America's beef and pork.
Source: Reuters
But officials on both sides said they hoped a deal could be struck in the next few months.
While progress was made on several problems like industrial tariffs and intellectual property rights, a major dispute centered on getting certain U.S. meat exports to Russia, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said.
"It is access provided by the Russians to imports -- their imports of beef and pork" that was a major holdup to a deal, Schwab told reporters at the G8 summit. She said Russia has problems with U.S. regulations on food safety and the health of America's beef and pork.
Source: Reuters
