Export Restrictions: Balancing Global and Domestic Food Security

Export restrictions on foodstuffs have been a contentious issue both on the domestic and international front. These measures are generally criticised due to their likely adverse impact on the food security of importing countries, inflating international prices, disrupting the global supply chains, being labelled as unreliable exporters, and causing opportunity losses for domestic traders and farmers. The issue is also being intensely discussed in the run-up to the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, with countries having strong divergent positions. Despite the concerns, many countries, including India, the European Union, Thailand, Malaysia, Egypt, Ghana, Argentina, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and Vietnam, have implemented these restrictions. Importantly, these measures have been used and implemented regardless of the status of the imposing member as a developed, developing, least developed, or net food-importing country.

Link: https://www.news18.com/opinion/opinion-export-restrictions-balancing-gl…