UN warns governments: Don't restrict food exports

ROME — The United Nations is urging governments not to impose export restrictions or other short-term measures to cope with rising food prices, saying they can actually make matters worse by reducing the incentive to produce food. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization issued an updated guide Wednesday for governments in the developing world grappling with the impact of high food prices. The FAO has warned that prices of wheat and other staples rose alarmingly in 2010 and that some poor countries may be headed for a repeat of the 2007/2008 food crisis that led to deadly riots. Wheat prices shot up sharply in August when Russia imposed an export ban after severe drought hurt harvests. In October, Ukraine — another major grain exporter — imposed export quotas. — AP