Alaska's seafood industry urges Vladimir Putin to rescind its ban on US food imports. (Photo: Stock File/FIS)
UNITED STATES
Friday, August 22, 2014, 23:30 (GMT + 9)
Leading companies from Alaska's USD 6 billion seafood industry have announced their support for a ban on Russian seafood imports to the United States and urged Russia to rescind its ban on US food imports, in force since 7 August.
The seafood companies believe such a move would not only further squeeze Russia's faltering economy as Russia threatens European stability, but would support America's sustainable, high-quality fisheries.
The Alaska seafood industry is now seeking support from the Alaska congressional delegation for the ban, as well as from the United States Trade Representative. It also seeks diplomatic efforts to immediately end Russia's ban on US seafood products.
Those endorsing the ban include Alaska General Seafoods, Alyeska Seafoods, Icicle Seafoods, North Pacific Seafoods, Ocean Beauty Seafoods, Peter Pan Seafoods, Trident Seafoods, UniSea, Westward Seafoods, and the members of the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers.
"We did not start this fight, and we hope the Russians will call off their embargo. But a US ban will signal to President Putin that America will not sit idly by while Russia disregards international law and tries to coerce the world into ignoring its transgressions through retaliatory actions," said Terry Shaff, President & CEO of UniSea Inc.
Russia has been a major market for US seafood products such as salmon roe, hake, Alaskan pollock, and others. The US has been an important market for Russian products including crab, Russian pollock, salmon, caviar, and others.
The proposed US ban would remain in effect until Russia rescinds its ban on US imports, and would include mechanisms to prohibit all seafood imports of Russian origin, including Russian-caught seafood that is transferred through other countries such as China before reaching the US. Hundreds of millions of dollars of Russian seafood imports are sold in the US every year, with much of the imported Russian fish coming through China.