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Iraq looks to Canada, shunning Aust wheat
16 Aug 2002
Iraq is in talks with Canada over the supply of wheat, and will ignore Australian wheat unless the Federal Government stops supporting a potential US attack on Iraq. Trade Minister Mehdi Saleh announced a halving of wheat imports from Australia and said Iraq will only restore trade to previous levels if Australia changes its position. Imports may be stopped altogether if Australia continues to support the US, Mr Saleh said, when he met with AWB officials yesterday.
Despite Iraq's claims that other Arab nations would join its boycott of Australia, Jordan is believed to have agreed to a deal with AWB for the supply of 50,000 tonnes of wheat. This won't replace the 500,000 tonnes cancelled recently by Iraq. But it's good news for Australian farmers, "given the battering that they've been taking", said Keith Perrett, president of the Grains Council.
The Australian, 16/8/02, page 4.
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