28 June 2010, at 11:10p.m.
US - The National Chicken Council (NCC) and National Turkey Federation (NTF) have welcomed the news of trade agreement with Russia.
NCC has welcomed the news that Russia has agreed to allow imports of US-produced chicken under certain conditions.
NCC President, George Watts, said in a statement: "The reopening of the Russian market is good news for American chicken producers and processors. We thank President Obama and government officials and members of Congress who were involved in resolving this issue."
A full assessment of the impact on the US chicken industry depends on the details and implementation of the agreement reached by US and Russian officials and announced by President Obama. Many members of Congress had urged the President to address the issue in his meetings with Russian President Medvedev.
Before Russia imposed a cut-off of US chicken imports, the trade was worth as much as $800 million per year.
Dozens of members of the House and Senate, including Senators Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, chairman and ranking minority member respectively of the Senate Agriculture Committee, wrote to President Obama to urge speedy resolution of the issue.
Members of the NTF have also applauded President Barack Obama's announcement that he and the Russian President have reached an agreement lifting the trade ban on US poultry exports to Russia.