Washington urges India to lift ban on wheat exports

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed hope that India will lift the decision to ban wheat exports in connection with ministerial meetings at the headquarters of the International Organization in New York to discuss food security. “We urge countries not to restrict exports because we believe that any export restrictions will exacerbate food shortages,” Greenfield said during a video conference. India is the second wheat producing country in the world and has decided to ban the export of this commodity without special government permission in order to ensure the “food security” of its 1.4 billion people. Shipments of hundreds of thousands of tons of wheat were stopped yesterday at a major Indian port after New Delhi announced at the end of the week the decision to ban the export of this food product due to high inflation and ensure its food security. Cargo arriving before May 13, the date the Indian government announced the export ban, could be shipped on ships bound for countries such as Egypt and South Korea under previous agreements, port officials said.