Thailand Plans to Establish Rice Cartel in the Region

What’s keeping Thailand busy these days when the world particularly its neighbors are in dire need of rice? There are news reports saying that Thailand, the land of the free, is planning to establish rice cartel in the mold of OPEC which will control the price of rice. Thailand is proposing the establishment of Organization of Rice Exporting Countries or OREC, which sounds familiar to say the least.

The groupings are composed of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and other rice exporting countries. Thailand, the main proponent of OREC, wants to follow the less traveled but politically and cartelized road of alliance of oil exporting countries. These countries have the same ideas and resolve to make it hard for other countries especially impoverished nations to suffer under their own terms and conditions.

This is a big international issue that should not be taken for granted by the United Nations lest they pass it through their noses. A broader study and consideration should be weigh out before Thailand could takes action to formalize the establishment of yet another kind of cartel in the form of OREC which might exacerbate the issue of rice crisis(?).

Could this be the cause of Globalization, GATT, FREE TRADES, ASEAN and other international agreements and so on and so forth? Is Thailand ready to sacrifice its mutual agreements and understanding with her ASEAN neighbors? May be time will tell.