Polish poultry could hit US in 2015

Minister of Agriculture Marek Sawicki met on Wednesday with the head of the US Department of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack and the heads of the agriculture committees of the American Senate and House of Representatives. The main theme of the talks was the opening of the US market for Polish products, including apples, pears and poultry and poultry products.

"I strongly believe that in 2016 Polish apples will be present in the United States, but whether they will as early as this year, there is no guarantee," Sawicki told reporters. The American side will try to "to shorten and speed up" the necessary procedures, he added.

In addition, Poland is seeking permission to launch sales to the US of beef and eggs and egg products, but this could take more time.

Sawicki warned that final decisions will depend not only on the US administration itself, but this are associated with a strong agricultural lobby in the US, which wants to protect its market.

"Do not forget, we are the biggest exporter of apples in the world, but still produce less than US manufacturers. They are in second place, and we are in third," he said.

Sawicki pointed out that Polish farmers had been victims of the embargo imposed by Russia on the EU and the US in connection with the conflict in Ukraine. "The geopolitical element is important for the pace of opening up the US market for Polish products," he said.

In 2014, the value of Polish exports of agricultural products to the US was USD 380.5 million, up 14.6 percent on 2013. The biggest increases were recorded in exports of pork (3.6-fold increase in the value of exports), rye (more than six-fold) and fruit juice (more than three-fold).

Sawicki told reporters after the talks in Washington on 15 July that ongoing negotiations on the liberalisation of EU-US trade had slowed and should be completed by 2020. (jh)