World in brief

HUNGARY

An influx of cheap Ukrainian wheat to Hungary has sent prices plunging by up to 37%, resulting in massive losses for domestic producers, news outlet Russia Today reported. According to the report, Hungarian Agriculture Minister Istvan Nagy said in an interview with

Magyar Nemzet newspaper that the EU had lifted tariffs on Ukrainian grain last year to help transport it to the rest of the world via all possible routes.

Nemzet noted that the EU had initially touted the initiative as a way to help Ukrainian exports reach poorer nations in the Middle East and Africa. However, much of the produce had ended up in Eastern Europe, sending local prices plummeting.

SLOVAKIA

Slovakia has become the third European country to pause imports of certain Ukrainian agricultural products, according to a report by television news network Al Jazeera.

It said the ban had come on the heels of similar action by Poland and Hungary, which threatened to extend a ban on grain imports amid fears that a grain glut was pushing prices down and hurting farmers’ livelihoods.

The Slovakian government said its ban would temporarily target some farm imports, but not grain, from Ukraine.

AUSTRALIA

Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to improving agricultural ties with China after a ministerial meeting last month, according to Reuters.

The report said that Australia had reached an agreement with China to resolve their dispute over barley imports. This followed Beijing resuming purchases of Australian coal in January after almost three years, and a ramping of up beef imports. –