U.S. to oppose export bans, urge biofuels at G-20

The U.S. will seek a “strong statement” criticizing bans on exports and will defend biofuels while encouraging ethanol from new sources at a G-20 summit of farm ministers, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.

Trade needs to be encouraged to “create a market that everyone can rely on,” Vilsack told reporters at a briefing in Washington ahead of the Group of 20 nations meeting of agricultural ministers later this week in Paris.