Ukraine supports joint statement of WTO members relating to World Food Programme

A corresponding joint statement was supported by about 80 WTO members, including Ukraine, the press service of the Ministry of Economic Development, Agriculture and Trade of Ukraine reports.

"January 21, about 80 WTO members, including EU member states and Ukraine, supported the joint statement which stipulates that these WTO members will not impose any export prohibitions or restrictions on foodstuffs purchased for non-commercial humanitarian purposes by the World Food Programme," the statement reads.

As noted, it was decided to make the joint statement after the members failed to find a compromise to endorse a decision, which would be binding on all the Organization members, at the WTO General Council meeting in December 2020.

The Ministry underscores that Ukraine, which is one of the major exporters of certain agricultural products and contributes to global food security and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), attaches particular importance to achieving SDG Goal 2 – end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

The joint statement of WTO members is also important given the situation resulting from the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic which leads to increased uncertainty in agricultural markets and the deterioration of the world's poor, in particular as a result of restrictions on agricultural exports. Measures that restrict exports, even those that can be justified under WTO rules, disrupt regional and global supply chains, reduce incentives for agricultural production, cause instability and rising prices, can lead to food shortages and threaten global food security.

"We appreciate the efforts of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to tackle world hunger and food shortages, improve food quality and living standards for the most vulnerable in the most critical moments of their lives. At the same time, we recognize that export restrictions create obstacles to the provision of humanitarian aid,” commented Ihor Petrashko, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine.

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