As Ukraine crisis deepens, China lifts all wheat-import restrictions on Russia

Name: Biden imposes stronger sanctions on Russia as invasion of Ukraine advances
Uploaded: 2022-02-24T14:15:15.000Z
Duration: 6 min 15 s
Description: Biden imposes stronger sanctions on Russia as invasion of Ukraine advances

Agreement reflects deepening ties between Beijing and Moscow while addressing China’s need to enhance food security

China could provide a lifeline to Russia’s economy after the United States and its allies imposed swift economic sanctions on Moscow this week

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China says it is fully open to Russian wheat imports, in the latest sign of their strengthening bilateral ties amid the Ukraine crisis. Photo: Bloomberg

Frank Tang

Published: 10:15pm, 24 Feb 2022Updated: 1:32pm, 9 Mar 2022

China has announced it is fully open to Russian wheat imports, in the latest sign of their strengthening bilateral ties as the Ukraine crisis is unfolding before a global audience and in the wake of fresh sanctions being imposed on Moscow.

The announcement by China’s General Administration of Customs was made public on Thursday, hours after Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine. However, the agreement was part of a package of deals made during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing early this month.

China had previously restricted imports of Russian grain due to phytosanitary concerns – measures for the control of plant diseases, especially in agricultural crops – and China’s latest customs statement also said Russia would take all measures to mitigate infestation risks.

China began allowing large-scale wheat imports from Russia’s far east region in October, with China’s largest agribusiness firm, the state-owned Cofco, buying the first batch of 667 metric tonnes (1.47 million pounds).

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Biden imposes stronger sanctions on Russia as invasion of Ukraine advances

As the world’s largest exporter of wheat, Russia sent more than 30 million metric tonnes abroad in the first 11 months of last year.

According to the Agroexport federal centre under Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural exports to China dropped by 13 per cent in 2021 from a year earlier, to US$3.5 billion, accounting for 9.8 per cent of Russia’s total agricultural exports.

That included US$116 million worth of cereals, US$1.1 billion in fishery products and US$408 million worth of meat and dairy products.

China’s 2021 wheat imports rose by 16.6 per cent, year on year, to 9.77 million metric tonnes.