Minister Bibeau and G7 counterparts support extension of Black Sea grain deal

Apr 24, 2023

Russia has signaled it’ll end the agreement If certain demands aren’t met

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Canada’s minister of agriculture and six of her counterparts are in favour of extending the Black Sea grain deal.

This deal, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), negotiated between Russia and Ukraine with support from Turkey and the United Nations, allows for the safe export of Ukrainian grain during Russia’s invasion.

Since last July when the agreement came into effect, about 28 million metric tons of grain Ukrainian grain has been exported.

Safe passage of grain should continue, the ministers said.

“We strongly support the extension, full implementation and expansion of the BSGI,” the G7 agriculture ministers, which includes Canada’s Marie-Claude Bibeau, said in an April 23 statement.

But the fact global food security at risk is unacceptable, the ministers added.

“We condemn Russia’s attempts to use food as a means of destabilization and as tool of geopolitical coercion and reiterate our commitment to acting in solidarity and supporting those most affected by Russia’s weaponization of food,” they said in their statement.

Bibeau and the other G7 agriculture ministers are in Japan to discuss trade, food security and other issues.

On March 18, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a 60-day BSGI extension, which ends on May 17.

Russia is threatening to pull the plug on the deal if certain demands aren’t met.

Russia wants banking and insurance restrictions preventing the export of Russian products lifted.

But since there’s been “no further progress in removing obstacles to the export of Russian fertilizers and grain, we will think whether this agreement is necessary,” Sergei Lavarov, Russia’s foreign minister, said during a visit to Turkey earlier in April, Reuters reported.

The G7 ministers signaled they will continue to put pressure on Russia while protecting others.

“We will continue to design our restrictive measures against Russia to shield population in need from unintended consequences by ensuring food and fertilizers are carved out,” they said in the statement.

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