New Delhi: The ongoing WTO ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi took turns for the ugly when Thai Ambassador to WTO, Pimchanok Pitfield reportedly made ‘offensive’ remarks on India’s rice export.

As per a report in the Times of India, Thailand’s ambassador’s remarks at the 13th ministerial conference (MC) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have given rise to a ‘diplomatic storm’ of sorts with the former accusing India of using ‘subsidised rice’ procured for the public distribution system for its exports.

The TOI report has said that India has lodged a strong protest with the Thai govt. The paper added that commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has lodged India’s dissatisfaction over the language and behaviour of the Ambassador with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Catherine Chi Tai.

India has also reportedly refused to participate in meetings with the Thai official until the ‘offensive comments’ are retracted. 

Meanwhile, Minister Goyal has strongly advocated for addressing the concerns of developing countries, including India. He called for swift attention to issues such as a permanent solution to public stockholding.

He stressed, “India stands on strong principles of fair play, justice and wants to ensure that all decisions taken at the WTO are keeping in mind the best interests of India’s farmers, India’s fisherfolk and ensures that our work towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, ameliorating poverty, ensuring good quality of life and ease of living for the people of India, and promoting strong and speedy growth in our Amrit Kaal is promoted through the various decisions at the WTO.”

#WATCH | Abu Dhabi, UAE: Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, “India’s stand is consistent, the world needs to see who is blocking the issues and why WTO work is not going on smoothly. It shows India is a consensus builder and we are playing an important role in this regard but many… pic.twitter.com/5dEhgfluMx
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2024

Earlier, in November 2023, India had told a WTO grouping with a major interest in farm trade that it will not discuss any new issue in the agriculture segment like imposition of export restrictions before a permanent solution is found with regard to public stockholding of food grains, news Agency PTI, quoting an official had reported.

This position was cleared during a mini-ministerial virtual meeting of about 28 WTO (World Trade Organisation) member countries on agriculture issues on November 28.

In the meeting, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal put forward New Delhi’s approach to the issue saying that public procurement and stockholding of food grains serve the twin objectives of food security and income support to marginal farmers.