The Food Safety and Inspection Service revised export requirements and plant lists for the following countries for June 30 - July 6:
Russia export controls and sanctions
The use of export controls and sanctions on Russia has surged since the country's invasion of Crimea in 2014, and especially its invasion of Ukraine in in February 2022. Similar export controls and sanctions have been imposed by U.S. allies, including the EU, U.K. and Japan. The following is a listing of recent articles in Export Compliance Daily on export controls and sanctions imposed on Russia:
The European Union issued the following trade-related releases July 4-5 (notices of most significance will be given separate headlines):
President Barack Obama said seven cotton fiber products should be added to the list of those eligible for duty-free treatment under the program when imported from least developed country beneficiaries, in the Administration’s 2011 Annual Review under the Generalized System of Preferences program. Adding the products implements one element of the LDC trade initiatives that the Office of U.S. Trade Representative announced at the December 2011 World Trade Organization Ministerial, said USTR Ron Kirk.
The European Union issued the following trade-related releases June 29-July 3 (notices of most significance will be given separate headlines):
On June 28 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
In the June 26-27, 2012, editions of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:
The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. signed a $1 billion deal with the Sberbank of Russia to facilitate increasing U.S. exports of goods and services to Russia and other countries in which Sberbank operates and Ex-Im Bank programs are available, they said. Ex-Im Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg said "there are tremendous opportunities for U.S. exporters to sell into these markets." Ex-Im sees big potential for U.S. companies is concentrated in aviation, infrastructure, and energy, including both conventional and renewable energy, it said. Ex-Im will consider increasing the amount of financing support if demand exceeds $1 billion, it said.
A group of U.S. corporations, trade associations and small businesses actively seeking to increase U.S. exports to Russia released a letter with more than 100 signatures urging U.S. senators to co-sponsor legislation (S-3285) to enact Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia. The group is called the Coalition for U.S.-Russia Trade (www.usrussiatrade.org). Russia joining the World Trade Organization "represents a strong deal that includes transparency and accountability commitments that will encourage an improved environment for business," said Randi Levinas, executive director of the coalition and executive vice president of the U.S.-Russia Business Council (www.usrbc.org). "The Russia PNTR bill introduced last week supports U.S. businesses and workers seeking to tap into export and sales opportunities in Russia's large and growing market. ... Without PNTR in hand when Russia joins the WTO, our companies risk losing out not only on lucrative contracts but also on opportunities to share good corporate governance rules and best business practices."
In testimony before the Senate Finance Committee on June 21, Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack expressed his strong support for ending the application of the Johnson-Vanik Amendment and authorizing permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) for Russia. “By not granting Russia PNTR,” said Vilsack, “U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers will face an uneven playing field. Their competitors in the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, and World Trade Organization member countries around the globe will benefit from Russia’s guaranteed tariff treatment and obligation to apply science-based sanitary and phytosanitary standards.”
The economic benefits of Russia joining the World Trade Organization and getting Permanent Normal Trade Relations "are clear," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) in opening remarks prepared for a hearing June 20. He said they include "greater opportunities for U.S. employers, farmers, and ranchers to sell American goods and services to Russia. We would give up nothing -- not a single U.S. tariff -- but we would obtain a powerful new enforcement tool and important rights, while bringing our two countries closer on multiple fronts."