VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #2740 2560519
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120519Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 5366
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9950
INFO RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 4651
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 5198

UNCLAS MOSCOW 002740 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FAS FOR OCRA/CURTIS, FLEMINGS, KUYPERS; 
- OSTA/HAMILTON, BEAN 
PASS FSIS/HARRIES, DUTROW 
PASS APHIS MITCHELL 
STATE FOR EUR/RUS, 
STATE PASS USTR FOR PORTER, HAFNER, KLEIN 
BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ 
VIENNA PASS APHIS/TANAKA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS
SUBJECT: CONSULTATION REQUESTED ON 2005 MEAT 
AGREEMENT 
 
REF: A. HANSEN/USTR PORTER, FAS/FLEMINGS EMAIL 
¶B. MOSCOW 2620 
¶C. MOSCOW 2579 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a letter from Economic 
Development Minister Nabiullina to U.S. Trade 
Representative Schwab that the embassy received 
on September 11, the GOR proposes expert level 
consultations on the Meat Agreement signed 
between Russia and the United States in 2005 as 
part of Russia's bid to join the WTO.  The Meat 
Agreement confirmed a special mechanism by which 
the United States may export a set quantity of 
pork, beef and poultry to Russia at a mutually 
agreed tariff level through the end of 2009. 
Russian officials have previously stated they 
want to substantially lower the quota for U.S. 
poultry in 2009 (Refs B, C), and raise over-quota 
duties on pork and poultry.  The original scanned 
copy and courtesy translation were sent to USDA, 
USTR and the State Department's Russia Desk on 
September 11 (REF A).  An informal embassy 
translation of the letter follows.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT: 
Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian 
Federation 
 
Moscow September 11, 2008 
No. 12693-EN/D11 
 
Ambassador S.C. Schwab 
U.S. Trade Representative 
Washington, D.C. 
 
First, I would like to express my gratitude for 
the attention you pay regarding Russia?s WTO 
accession and to the development of our bilateral 
economic and trade relations in general. 
 
We intend to continue active collaboration in the 
multilateral negotiations within the framework of 
the working group for WTO accession, and we are 
ready to make efforts to solve outstanding 
problems through mutual agreement before the end 
of this year. 
 
In that regard, I would like to voice one 
particular issue related to the bilateral 
Russian-American Agreement on trade in certain 
types of poultry, beef and pork, signed in 
Washington on June 15, 2005. 
 
Bearing in mind that this part of trade is of 
high importance for both of our countries, we are 
ready to discuss any issues of concern with our 
partners. 
 
We would like to propose that our specialists, 
without any delay, conduct consultations on the 
trade of meat products in the nearest future. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Minister E. Nabiullina 
END TEXT. 
BEYRLE