US AG GROUPS RAISE CHINA TRADE STATUS CONCERNS
A coalition of agricultural organizations is raising concerns about the potential negative impact to US farmers of removing China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. A letter sent to the select committee was led by Farmers for Free Trade, which counts many of the nation’s leading agricultural organizations as members. “China is now the largest buyer of US food and agricultural products, purchasing 19% of our exports,” the letter said. “These exports are critical to America’s farmers and rural communities. When trade frictions arise between our countries, those exports are threatened.”
The coalition said trade actions that pass the burden on to farmers to address those issues is the wrong approach. It said tariff increases in 2018 and 2019 led to the significant loss of US agricultural exports to retaliating partners with China accounting for 95% of the losses ($25.7 billion). The coalition urged Congress instead to help bolster and diversify alternative market access in the Asia-Pacific region, saying that would decrease reliance on the Chinese market.
(Link: WorldGrain)
RUSSIA TEMPORARILY BANS DURUM EXPORTS
Russia introduced a temporary ban on durum wheat exports until May 31, 2024, with the publication of a government decree on Dec. 11 in an effort to ensure the country’s food security and stabilize prices, Reuters reported. Russia boosted durum wheat exports between July 1 and Nov. 10 to 657,000 tonnes from 52,000 tonnes in the same period of 2022, according to Russian news agency Interfax. The wheat was shipped to Italy, Turkey, and Tunisia.
The decree includes exemptions such as shipments for global humanitarian aid or under worldwide inter-governmental agreements. Exports to South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the South Caucasus region, as well as grain shipped as supplies, are also permitted. Nations within the Eurasian Economic Union — which include Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia — also will be allowed to receive durum wheat exports, if they have permits from the Agriculture Ministry.
(Link: WorldGrain)
