Kuwait is pleading with the Morrison government to waive the upcoming suspension of live animal exports to the Middle East, arguing that halting the sheep trade would compound damage the coronavirus has done to the region's food security.

The Kuwait Livestock Transport and Trading Company (KLTT) and the Kuwaiti government have written to Agriculture Minister David Littleproud warning that the bilateral relationship will face strain if Australia goes ahead with its northern summer export ban from June 1.