21.   Vershbow told a news conference that the issue of poultry imports had become the number one problem in U.S.-Russian relations over the past month.

22.   Vershbow told a news conference that the issue of poultry imports was one of the major issues in U.S.-Russian relations and involved high-ranking officials on both sides.

23.   China has lifted a four-month ban on US poultry imports sparked by an outbreak of disease, the China Daily reported Tuesday.

24.   The outlook for a ban on poultry imports had pushed down prices of corn and soy products, which are used as animal feed.

25.   The US veterinary delegation is due to head for talks Monday in Kiev, where Ukrainian authorities have also imposed an embargo on US poultry imports.

26.   Markets were already affected by indications that Russia will limit its poultry imports from the United States.

27.   Officials warned Monday that US poultry imports would still be submitted to particularly strict hygiene checks.

28.   Russia had slapped a ban on US poultry imports, citing health concerns over the use of antibiotics and scares of salmonella, a bacterium that causes food poisoning.

29.   Several other former Soviet republics have joined the Russian ban on US poultry imports.

30.   The ban is not expected to affect other US poultry imports into China, the report, citing quarantine officials, said.