Thailand has appointed a new Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to replace Pimchanok Vonkorpon Pitfield, following objections from India over her comments on New Delhi’s rice procurement program.
India protested against the Thai envoy’s remarks, accusing her of ridiculing India’s public stockholding program and spreading incorrect information. Pitfield will be replaced by Thailand’s Foreign Secretary. India has been seeking a solution to the issue of subsidy caps for its food program, which has breached the permitted level of support.
The ongoing WTO ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi has seen discussions on global trade rules, with India emphasizing the need for all policy options to promote digital industrialization.
The conference’s closing session was extended to finalize agreements for adoption. The WTO, founded about three decades ago, now has 166 member countries, with Timor-Leste and Comoros joining this year.