BANGKOK, May 6: Thailand’s Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama on Tuesday said the country would not form a cartel with other rice-exporting countries, bowing to concerns that it could worsen the global food shortage.

“Thailand will not lead the setting up of a rice-exporting cartel,” he told reporters. “That issue should be handled by UN agencies,” such as the UN Conference on Trade and Development or the Food and Agriculture Organisation, he said. “The rice issue is very sensitive, and if a rice cartel is formed it would make the world food crisis worse,” he said.

The latest statement signals a reversal by Thailand, after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said last week the kingdom had agreed in principle to form a cartel.—AFP