WASHINGTON, August 8 (RIA Novosti) – US food exports to Russia in 2013 amounted to less than 1 percent of the country’s total agricultural exports worth $144 billion, the US Department of Agriculture said to RIA Novosti.
“In calendar year 2013, the United States exported $1.2 billion to Russia in agricultural products. This was less than 1 percent of total US agricultural exports,” USDA spokeswoman Gwen Sparks said.
Last year, US largest exports to Russia were poultry and meat products worth $310 million, followed by tree nuts, primarily almonds, at $172 million, and live animals, such as cattle, worth $149 million. Prepared food brought up the rear at $84 million.
On Thursday, Russia banned all food imports from the United States for one year in response to US sanctions that targeted entire sectors of the country’s economy. All European fruit and vegetables, nuts, meat, poultry and seafood, as well as various dairy products are also included in the list.
Russia is America’s second largest chicken importer. In 2013, the United States delivered some 267,000 tons of chicken worth $309 million to Russia, according to the US National Chicken Council.
Moscow said it was ready to review the terms of its import restrictions if Western partners show commitment to dialogue.
