No American pressure on Egypt for not cultivating wheat

Deputy Chairman of American Wheat Board for the Middle East and East Africa announced that a $ 200 million long-term credit line for Jordanian, Lebanese and Egyptian importers was approved to facilitate wheat imports from the US, pointing out that this line comes within the framework of facilities extended by the US to activate wheat exports.

The period of this line is one year.

At a press conference held on Tuesday, he said Egypt has all potentials for cultivating wheat and any other crops.

He added that there is no American pressure on Egyptian government or farmers for not cultivating wheat in order that the US could export its production of wheat.

Egypt topped the list of wheat importers from the United States till 2003, but it ranked fifth last year as it depended on Argentina and Australia, he noted.

The US does not offer any kind of subsidy for wheat growers in order to control its prices, he said, adding that wheat prices are determined by supply and demand law in addition to other factors such as shipping costs.

The US is the first exporter of wheat as it exports 100 million tons annually.

It is followed by Australia, Canada, Argentina, the European Union, Russia, India and Pakistan.