Strait Of Hormuz Impacting Humanitarian Aid, Rubio Notes

International events are increasingly putting American agriculture in the crosshairs of foreign policy.  First, it was Russia-Ukraine and the war’s impact on world grain and fertilizer supplies.  Now, it’s Iran and the hit to fuel, fertilizer, and food impeded through the Strait of Hormuz.

“There’s humanitarian aid destined for different countries in the world that’s stranded in the Persian Gulf right now," said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.  "It’s the fertilizer that they need for their food and crops.”

About one-third of the world’s fertilizer and a fifth of its oil moves out of the Gulf through the Strait.  That’s raised fuel, fertilizer, and food prices.  Rubio warned this can happen anywhere.

“If we live in a world where global shipping lanes can be taken over by countries, that’ll have an impact on Americans in the short and long-term, and we can’t let it start with Iran doing it,” he said.

Rubio warned China could do the same in the Taiwan Strait, a passage for one-fifth of global trade, including oil, natural gas, and computer chips.

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