HANOI - Vietnam will suspend signing new rice export contracts until March 28 at the earliest under a review to ensure domestic supplies are sufficient during the coronavirus outbreak, the government said in a statement on Wednesday .
"While waiting for the report from the working group, the signing of all new rice export contracts will be suspended, and those contracts that have already been signed will be dealt with after the report is available," the government said.On Tuesday, a government food official told Reuters Vietnam would continue rice exports, despite reports by state media and customs officials that a government ban on exports had been in effect.
"If food exporting countries start limiting supplies to secure their own food security this would be of very great concern."