Japan, S Korea ban Canadian wheat
The temporary import bans were another blow to Canadian farmers
Wheat sales contribute about $8 billion to the Canadian economy each year PHOTO: REUTERS
OTTAWA:
The world’s sixth largest wheat producer sought to reassure trading partners on Monday that genetically modified wheat plants discovered on an Alberta farm were few and posed no food safety risks, after Japan and South Korea halted Canadian wheat imports. Wheat sales contribute about $8 billion to the Canadian economy each year. The temporary import bans were another blow to Canadian farmers who faced costly delays in getting grains to markets this year due to a disruption in rail shipping to ports blamed on winter storms. “South Korea and Japan have initiated a temporary suspension of trade in wheat while they undertake a review of the comprehensive investigation and testing already completed by Canadian officials,” trade department spokesman Jesse Wilson said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2018.
The world’s sixth largest wheat producer sought to reassure trading partners on Monday that genetically modified wheat plants discovered on an Alberta farm were few and posed no food safety risks, after Japan and South Korea halted Canadian wheat imports. Wheat sales contribute about $8 billion to the Canadian economy each year. The temporary import bans were another blow to Canadian farmers who faced costly delays in getting grains to markets this year due to a disruption in rail shipping to ports blamed on winter storms. “South Korea and Japan have initiated a temporary suspension of trade in wheat while they undertake a review of the comprehensive investigation and testing already completed by Canadian officials,” trade department spokesman Jesse Wilson said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2018.