Keith Bradsher and Andrew Martin reported in today’s New York Times that, “At least 29 countries have sharply curbed food exports in recent months, to ensure that their own people have enough to eat, at affordable prices.
“When it comes to rice, India, Vietnam, China and 11 other countries have limited or banned exports. Fifteen countries, including Pakistan and Bolivia, have capped or halted wheat exports. More than a dozen have limited corn exports. Kazakhstan has restricted exports of sunflower seeds.
“The restrictions are making it harder for impoverished importing countries to afford the food they need. The export limits are forcing some of the most vulnerable people, those who rely on relief agencies, to go hungry.
“‘It’s obvious that these export restrictions fuel the fire of price increases,’ said Pascal Lamy, the director general of the World Trade Organization.”
(more…)
Doha
Alan Beattie, writing yesterday at the Financial Times Online, reported that, “The head of the World Trade Organisation has called a meeting of ministers for late July in a high-risk attempt to rescue the beleaguered Doha round of global trade talks.”
Mr. Beattie explained that, “Gordon Brown, the UK prime minister, said: ‘I believe this is the endgame for the trade talks … I think we are in touching distance.’
“But some trade officials warned that large negotiating gaps remained between the leading countries and said Mr Lamy’s decision to call a meeting was a gamble that could lead to a high-profile implosion.”
(more…)
Doha
James Kanter reported in today’s New York Times that, “Pascal Lamy, the director general of the World Trade Organization, has called a week-long meeting of ministers next month aimed at reaching a breakthrough deal on liberalizing global trade, officials and diplomats said Wednesday.
Mr. Kanter explained that, “The meeting is scheduled to be held over five days at the W.T.O. headquarters in Geneva starting July 21, with the goal of agreeing to specific tariff and subsidy cuts. Up to 40 countries are expected to attend.
“Sean Spicer, the assistant United States trade representative, warned that important differences remained between trading partners on the crucial areas of agriculture, industrial goods and services, the areas on which the talks would focus.
“But Mr. Spicer said there was ‘an opportunity for success’ if other countries ‘work with the same spirit’ and ‘make the same intensive efforts’ as the United States.”
(more…)
Marcia Zarley Taylor reported yesterday at DTN (link requires subscription) that, “Ethanol’s rapid expansion since 2006 has seriously exaggerated price increases in corn and jeopardized the domestic livestock industry, perhaps far more than the Bush administration has been willing to admit.
“So concluded a new analysis by former USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins, a fixture in farm policy for the past 30 years and an authority who is lending credence to the request by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, for a partial waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard mandate in that state. Collins’ white paper, commissioned by Kraft Foods, was part of the public comments submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency as it considers whether it should grant the exemption. The public comment period ends June 24, and EPA is expected to issue its decision, in consultation with USDA and the Department of Energy, next month.”
(more…)
Reuters writer Laura MacInnis reported yesterday that, “French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pointed criticism of the Doha free trade round were contradictory and did poor-country farmers a disservice, trade experts said on Monday.
“Sarkozy, a staunch defender of European Union farm subsidies that would be cut under a new World Trade Organisation (WTO) accord, called the deal being negotiated in Geneva ‘really counterproductive’ in light of the world’s food security crisis.
“‘One child dies every 30 seconds because they are hungry, and we should go and negotiate within the WTO framework a 20 percent cut in European agricultural production?,’ he asked in remarks directed at EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.”
(more…)
Follow us on twitter
Site Feed
Podcast
Email Updates
