WTO members agree to keep trade open for food and agricultural products

The United States, the European Union and 20 other member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO), including Brazil, Australia, Canada, and Japan, have agreed to keep trade in food and agricultural products open amid restrictions aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus. In a joint statement, WTO countries said that some countries are imposing restrictions on exports despite lessons from the past showing that this increases food insecurity for vulnerable populations.  “The world’s poor, including agricultural workers, would suffer from the impact of increased export restrictions,” the statement said.

The WTO group represents 63% of exports and 55% of agricultural and food imports in the world and has also pledged to ensure that supply chains remain open and that emergency measures are targeted, proportionate, transparent and temporary.  The other signatories are Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malawi, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Uruguay.

Source: Reuters

Sharing is caring!