To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking through the Food and Agriculture Organization (1) to expedite the export of foodstuffs from the Ukraine, and (2) to mobilise the release of emergency stocks of food to the poorest countries and arrange the necessary shipping.
Answered on
9 June 2022
We are urgently working with the UN, the G7 and the international community to explore the best solutions to extract the 25 million tons of grain currently stuck in Ukraine. We recognise the consequences of the conflict are impacting all of our economies. We are clear that prices are rising because of Russia's actions: Putin's illegal, unprovoked and premeditated invasion of Ukraine is exacerbating price rises in commodity markets.
We are calling on all countries to keep food trade flowing - the worst outcome now would be an obstruction of food trade. We are aware of reports of certain countries imposing restrictions on exports and the worrying impact this could have on global food supplies. The UK has led over 50 World Trade Organisation members to commit to keeping food markets open, predictable and transparent, and is seeking agreement at June's Ministerial Conference on further actions.