U.S. hopes India to reconsider wheat export ban

India, the world’s second-biggest wheat producer, has banned wheat exports in a bid to check high domestic prices amid concerns of wheat output being hit by scorching heat waves

The U.S. hopes India will “reconsider” its decision to ban wheat exports, with Washington “encouraging" countries not to restrict exports as that will exacerbate food shortages, amidst Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

India, the world's second-biggest wheat producer, has banned wheat exports in a bid to check high domestic prices amid concerns of wheat output being hit by scorching heat waves.

The decision would help control retail prices of wheat and wheat flour, which have risen by an average of 14-20% in the last year, besides meeting the foodgrain requirement of neighbouring and vulnerable countries.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, during a virtual New York Foreign Press Center briefing on May 16, said, “We have seen the report of India’s decision. We’re encouraging countries not to restrict exports because we think any restrictions on exports will exacerbate the food shortages”.

“But you’ve – again, India will be one of the countries participating in our meeting at the Security Council, and we hope that they can, as they hear the concerns being raised by other countries, they would reconsider that position,” she said.

Ms. Thomas-Greenfield was responding to a question on India’s decision to restrict wheat exports.

The U.S. envoy said that Ukraine used to be a breadbasket for the developing world, but “ever since Russia started blocking crucial ports and destroying civilian infrastructure and grain silos, hunger situations in Africa and the Middle East are getting even direr.