Thailand replaces WTO ambassador amid India's protest

Thailand replaces WTO ambassador amid India’s protest

Thailand has decided to replace its Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) after India lodged a strong protest over her remarks regarding New Delhi’s rice procurement programme, as per media reports.Â

This move comes amidst escalating tensions between the two countries following contentious comments made by the Thai Ambassador, prompting India to express disappointment and register a formal complaint.

As per reports, Pimchanok Vonkorpon Pitfield has been instructed to return to Thailand after the ongoing 13th ministerial conference (MC), which is now in its fifth day of discussions. It has been reported that Pitfield will be replaced by the Thai foreign secretary.

India expressed disappointment over Pitfield’s remarks made during a consultation meeting on Tuesday, where she accused India of using its rice procurement programme at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the public distribution system not for the benefit of its people but to capture the export market.Â

India has also formally conveyed its protest to the Thai government and also expressed discontent with the WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

After registering their protest, Indian delegates at the WTO meeting refrained from participating in certain group discussions where the Thai representative was present.

India, alongside Thailand, is a major player in rice exports. Media reports suggest that on various platforms, certain developed and developing nations have accused India’s public stockholding, particularly of rice, of distorting global market prices.

From 2018 to 2022, India held the title of the world’s largest rice exporting country, followed by Thailand and Vietnam. However, in 2023, India banned the export of broken and non-basmati white rice due to uncertainties surrounding rice production, geopolitical factors, El Nino phenomena, and extreme weather conditions.

This measure aimed to stabilise domestic prices and ensure sufficient availability in the domestic market.

India’s rice exports stood at 22.24 million tonnes in 2022, accounting for 40.63 per cent of the world’s rice exports. Export bans were imposed on broken rice from September 2022 and non-basmati white rice from July 2023, while the export of basmati and parboiled non-basmati rice continues.