The Ministry of Commerce insisted on Thursday that the government’s rice pledging programme is not against the rules of the World Trade Organisation as alleged.

Thikamporn Nartvoratat, deputy director general of the Foreign Trade Department, said the rice scheme is in line with the rules of the WTO, which allows member countries to provide assistance needed for their farmers.

He was responding to a concern by the US that the rice scheme might have violated the WTO’s regulations to prevent the implementing of trade barriers and called for a discussion on the issue with the Thai government.

The WTO’s rules allow its members to come up with necessary measures to help the agricultural sector which is the weakest group of people. The WTO just wants a fair practice against the agricultural goods producers, the exporters and the buyers of the products in all countries across the globe, said Mr Thikamporn.

The rice mortgage scheme is just a tool to help raise the income of farmers and similar measures are being implemented in many countries, including developed nations like the US and countries in the European Union, he added.

The deputy director general insisted that the government’s rice plan has not distorted the rice market’s mechanism as alleged. Moreover, it will enhance the living standards of rice farmers in the long-term, which in turn it would help ensure global food security.

He added that the government’s rice scheme had no effect on other rice exporting countries.

Source: Bangkok Post