BIDEN Issues Statement on News of Russia's Ban on Chicken Imports
Two Delaware Plants Affected Beginning on Monday
August 30, 2008
Wilmington, DE -- United States Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) today issued the following statement after learning that Russia will start banning chicken imports from 19 plants in the United States beginning on Monday. Two Delaware plants, operated by Mountaire Farms in Selbyville and Millsboro, are included in this ban.
Sen. Biden's full statement is below.
"Russia is once again using non-tariff barriers as an excuse to close its markets to American poultry. I am concerned about the effect of this action on Mountaire, a major employer and integral part of our state's agricultural production. Other local poultry processing plants may be targeted.
"Russia has repeatedly shown that it is not ready to abide by the rules of international trade. Let's not forget this is part of a bigger picture in which Russia has failed to behave as a responsible member in the international community. Until Russia reverses their recent actions -- both big and small - its application to join the World Trade Organization should remain on hold.
"The United States must take immediate and necessary steps -- just like we did in 2002 -to restore access to this market, which is critical to Delaware's farmers, Delaware's poultry industry and Delaware's economy, which relies heavily on the agricultural industry."
