Ukraine Looms Large Over Ag Talks Ahead of WTO Ministerial

The chair of the World Trade Organization's agriculture negotiating group, Ambassador Gloria Abraham Peralta of Costa Rica, told WTO members to prepare for "intensive negotiations" relating to the impact of the invasion of Ukraine on global food markets, the WTO said. Peralta's comments came during a March 21 meeting of the agriculture group meant to focus negotiating efforts ahead of the 12th Ministerial Conference set for the week of June 13. Peralta asked the negotiating group members to "reassess" their negotiating objectives in light of these recent challenges. In response, several members of the group discussed the impact of the Ukraine conflict on the negotiation process along with resulting threats to food security, the WTO said. Members affirmed their support for a multilateral decision to waive export restrictions on food purchases by the World Food Programme.