Iraq: No Threat to Australian Wheat

Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister, Mark Vaile has received word this morning that Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi has denied claims in "The Australian" on 12 November 2005 that Iraq has suspended future orders of Australian wheat.

Mr Vaile says Mr Chalabi told Australia's, Acting Ambassador (Charge d'Affaires) Paul Foley in Iraq that Australia was free to compete for wheat orders.

Mr Chalabi said that the long-standing commercial relationship with AWB was of importance to the Iraqi Government and that Iraqi consumers liked Australian wheat.

Iraq's Prime Minister's office has also told the Australia Government it had no reason for concern and there had been no shift in Iraqi Government policy

Contacts: Richard Forbes 02 6277 7420