WTO Nears Food Security Pledges

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) closed a food security deal on Monday with only India, Egypt, and Sri Lanka refraining from helping to mitigate supply tightness and rising prices exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. 

164 member trade body is seeking to sign two agreements at a major trade ministers' meeting in Geneva this week, aiming to take action to mitigate the food crisis that threatens the most developing and most vulnerable countries.

One is for the declaration to keep markets open, not restrict exports, and transparency will be increased. The other is a binding decision not to restrict exports to the World Food Program (WFP), which aims to end hunger in areas affected by conflict, disasters, and climate change.

The International Monetary Fund states that about 30 countries have restricted exports of food, energy, and other commodities, including India, which contains wheat.