China - protectionism threat to co-operation

Chain’s ambassador to the US said that “rampant” US protectionism is undermining agricultural co-operation between the countries, adding that farmers should not bear the price of the trade war between Washington and Beijing.

Zimbabwe - import ban

Zimbabwe has reintroduced a ban on maize imports after the country saw a bumper harvest this year. Improved rainfall boosted the harvest, with the country’s agriculture ministry saying it had enough local supply to meet its needs for the year.

USA - human screwworm case

A US Department of Agriculture official said that the human case of screwworm reported this week poses no threat to the farm sector. The US has banned live cattle imports from Mexico twice in the last year due to an outbreak of the parasite in its southern neighbour.

Ukraine - call for lifting of fertiliser ban

Ukraine’s biggest farmers’ union called for the lifting of a ban on the import of nitrogen fertilisers by sea. The ban, which was introduced at the start of the Russian invasion, is leading to shortages of the chemical compounds, with the union saying it could lead to a 30% drop in yields next year.