UAE urges against food export restrictions

DUBAI - The United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Food Security urged countries to work together to maintain global food supply chains as coronavirus lockdowns disrupt the food and agriculture industry.

"The coronavirus crisis is a wake-up call for the whole world – joint action and solidarity are what is needed at this time," Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri said at a virtual meeting of agriculture and food ministers of the Group of 20. 

"It is also incumbent upon us to follow the recommendations of specialised international bodies, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation as much as possible, who recommend avoiding restricting food exports," said Almheiri. 

She said on Twitter that she coordinated measures to safeguard the health and safety of the food sector, eliminate barriers to food export, disallowing unjustified price hikes and extending aid to the communities in need are the critical pillars to overcome the risk of undernourishment during the pandemic.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman al-Fadhli said his country would work with other states and organisations to make sure food supply chains remained resilient as the battle against COVID-19 continues.

A senior World Bank official said that the poorest countries in the world “face food insecurity and malnutrition” due to the pandemic, a drop in foreign exchange earnings, export restrictions on food and the breakdown of supply chains.

Mari Pangestu, managing director for development policy, underscored the need for global cooperation to avert food crises in the most vulnerable countries in remarks to the online meeting.

"Refrain from imposing export restrictions and avoid unnecessary import barriers and build-up of stocks," she said, adding that global grain production and stocks were at near all-time highs, making restrictions unnecessary.