Vaile Welcomes 350,000 Tonne Wheat Deal to Iraq

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile has welcomed the announcement today that the Wheat Australia consortium has reached agreement to sell 350,000 tonnes of wheat to Iraq.

Mr Vaile said, "This is great news for Australia's wheat growers and I congratulate Wheat Australia on this outcome. I'm pleased that all parties were able to negotiate a commercially acceptable deal".

"Following my trip to Baghdad in February, the Iraqis agreed to keep the wheat market open to Australia and here's the proof of that commitment", Mr Vaile said.

The Iraqi Government reiterated the great value that Iraq places on the relationship with Australia and particularly as a supplier of high quality wheat to the Iraqi people," Mr Vaile said.

"Australia has been a major supplier of wheat to the Iraqi market for over 50 years and I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that Australian wheat farmers can continue to sell their wheat to Iraq and the rest of the world," Mr Vaile said

"While the Labor Party and Mr Rudd see Australia's wheat market as a political football and as a tool for Rudd's political ambitions, the Government is getting on with the job of opening markets for our wheat exports – Iraq included," Mr Vaile said.

Contact: Mr Vaile's Office 02 6277 7420, Departmental 02 6261 1555, Austrade 02 9390 2701