Okonjo-Iweala Reacts To Ukraine Grain Deal Collapse, Says ‘Poor Countries Hardest Hit’

The stoppage of the deal would be felt most severely by poor countries, the former Minister of Finance said.

Updated July 18, 2023

World Trade Organization (WTO) director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala attends a press conference on WTO trade forecast at the intergovernmental trade organization in Geneva on April 12, 2022. Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Monday, faulted Russia’s decision to halt its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

In a tweet on Monday, the former Minister of Finance expressed disappointment, saying the stoppage of the deal would be felt most severely by poor countries.

Earlier, Russia said it would no longer cooperate with a deal that allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine’s grain.

Channels Television reports that the Black Sea Grain Initiative was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

The initiative was established in July 2022 to abate a global food crisis after Russia invaded Ukraine — a neighboring country and fellow key grain exporter.

The deal allowed for commercial food and fertilizer (including ammonia) exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa, Chornomorsk, Yuzhny/Pivdennyi.

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