U.S. AMBASSADOR VISITS GRAIN STORAGE FACILITY IN ODESA

United States Ambassador William B. Taylor traveled to Odesa region today to see first hand the condition of grain in storage at Yuzhniy Port. Due to the Government of Ukraine's export restrictions, hundreds of thousands of tons of grain - the product of Ukraine's rich fields and hard work - are wasting away at Ukraine's ports, waiting for months to be shipped to paying customers around the world.

In his statement to the press, Ambassador Taylor stressed the tragedy of the situation, stating that it was sobering to see the product of Ukraine's famed farmers going to waste.

Ambassador Taylor said he appreciated the government's concern for food security and that the limiting of exports likely began as a sincere effort to ensure adequate reserves of grain for Ukraine's citizens. However, he also said that there are alternatives for achieving that goal that do not involve distorting the market, and causing hundreds of millions of dollars of losses to farmers, traders, and transport and port facilities. Ambassador Taylor said that as Ukraine is seeking to join the club of countries with liberal trade regimes, it should be energetically participating in world commerce rather than limiting its exports, and that to the Ukrainian Government should participate in the market to purchase the necessary grain reserves. Ambassador Taylor urged the government to consult with the agricultural industry and others to end this impasse.