Washington - The U.S. Agriculture Department is looking at ways to add poultry export credits for Russian importers to the $885 million Russian food aid package, the National Broiler Council said Monday.
The proposal now being considered by a U.S. interagency group would extend private sector credits under Title I of the PL 480 program, also known as the food for peace program, a spokesman for the council said.
USDA General Sales Manager Chris Goldthwait last week told a trade forum held by the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council that the government was considering the program to help U.S. poultry producers.
“Goldthwait said he was supportive of efforts to keep commercial importers in Russia involved,” the Broiler Council spokesman said. “He indicated they are looking at a government to private sector credit program, under Title I of PL 480.”
Goldthwait could not be reached for comment, and an assistant said he was on jury duty on Monday.
In an interview published Monday by Sparks Companies Inc's daily “Policy Report,” Goldthwait said USDA projections for commercial poultry sales to Russia were overly optimistic.
U.S. exports of poultry slowed to a trickle following Russia's financial crisis earlier this year. The USDA this month slashed its 1999 forecast of all poultry exports to $1.8 billion, down from $2.4 billion forecast in August.
U.S. poultry groups have pressed for export credits, rather than direct donations of poultry to Russia, to maintain business there.
“Our position all along has been that we are interested in preserving the commercial channels that have been developed over the years as a means of getting poultry to Russian consumers,” the Broiler Council spokesman said.
In November, the USDA announced a food aid package to Russia that included $625 million worth of food and $260 worth of transportation credits. USDA's formal agreement was presented to Moscow last week for its review.
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