CAIRO — Egypt is refusing to support food security agreements proposed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to alleviate the global food supply crises and the sharp price increases exacerbated by Russia’s war on Ukraine.

In an effort to confront the food crisis threatening the developing and less fortunate countries in the world, the WTO is seeking to conclude two agreements among member states, one of which will focus on keeping global markets open without restrictions on the movement of exports, all the while increasing transparency with regard to the export and import of food. 

The other agreement will focus on formulating a binding decision not to restrict exports to the World Food Program (WFP), which seeks to combat all kinds of hunger in places affected by wars, conflicts, natural disasters and climate change.

While most WTO member states expressed support for the two agreements during a June 14 meeting of the 164-member trade body, only Egypt, India and Sri Lanka have rejected these agreements, a WTO spokesperson said in a press conference.