Trade Liberalization in Rice

Rice is one of the most important food grains in the world, accounting for more than 20 percent of global calories consumed. Rice trade accounts for only 5 percent of world consumption compared to wheat trade at 20 percent, coarse grains at 12 percent, and soybeans at 25 percent. The thinness of trade for rice is primarily a result of a variety of protectionist mechanisms based on national policy objectives in major rice-producing countries of domestic food security and producer support ( Table 8.1 ).