US support for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Corridor Initiative

Making a statement at the daily press conference, Price said, “The Black Sea Grain Initiative is an important tool in tackling global food insecurity and ensuring stability in food prices. The USA strongly supports Secretary General Guterres’s efforts to bring Russian and Ukrainian grain to the world market in partnership with Turkey. We support the Secretary General’s call from Kiev to extend the initiative before March 18.” said.

Price reminded that since August last year, 23 million metric tons of grains and oilseeds have been put on the market under the Black Sea Grain Corridor Initiative.

Noting that four million metric tons of this grain went to developing countries, Price noted that within the scope of the initiative, 16 ships of grain were delivered to countries facing major food crises such as Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia and Afghanistan through the World Food Program.

Pointing out that fertilizer and wheat prices increased by 30 percent in the world before the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Price said, “The Black Sea Grain Initiative was successful, reduced grain prices, maintained the grain flow, and millions of people in developing countries who had food problems got rid of acute food shortages. As a result, The world needs Ukrainian grain.” said.

The Black Sea Grain Corridor Initiative regarding the grain shipment carried out under the coordination of Turkey for the solution of the global food crisis that emerged with the start of the war in Ukraine was signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022 between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the UN under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The expired initiative was later extended for 120 days from 19 November 2022 as a result of the four-way talks hosted by Turkey with the initiatives of President Erdoğan on 19 November 2022.

That period expires on March 18.