U.S., Soviet Union Revive Grain Talks
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WASHINGTON — American and Soviet negotiators will meet in Moscow in early December to revive grain trade talks that faltered last year, U.S. officials said Monday.
U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills and Agriculture Secretary Clayton K. Yeutter said preliminary talks were scheduled to take place in Moscow the week of Dec. 4.
Since 1976, U.S. grain exports to the Soviet Union have been governed by bilateral accords that have been periodically renewed. The agreements have required Moscow to buy a minimum quantity of wheat and corn, while setting an upper limit on how much it can buy without prior approval.
The current pact requires Moscow to buy at least 4 million metric tons each of wheat and corn each year and at least another 1 million metric tons of grain or soybean products.
As of July 27, the Soviet Union had bought a record 21.7-million metric tons of American wheat and corn for the year ending Sept. 30, reflecting expanding Soviet demand.
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