Nats MP anger at US wheat lobby (Australia AWB)

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FORMER Nationals minister Bruce Scott wants Australia to investigate US and European wheat exports. Mr Scott said today he was angry the US wheat lobby was trying to take Australia's place in the Iraq market.

Prime Minister John Howard is meeting AWB Ltd executives this morning in an effort to salvage Australian wheat sales to Iraq. The exports have been suspended until the Cole inquiry has finished investigating kickbacks allegations.
"The American wheat lobby and the American wheat growers are among the most heavily subsidised wheat growers in the world," Mr Scott said.

"It's hypocritical of them to be lobbying the way they are. They ought to get their own house in order before they come to Australia trying to destroy Australian wheat growers. "If they would end their subsidies on wheat exports from America, we might then move towards a more level playing field in international wheat trade.

"I'd like to see what would happen if we had an open investigation into the operations of the American wheat exports – for that matter, the Europeans. "We've got to operate as wheat growers from Australia in the most unlevel playing field because of the subsidies of the Europeans and the Americans that distort markets."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18155369%255E1702,00.html