Regional trade agreements and food security in Asia

Food security has always been one of the prime development objectives for all developing countries. One issue often raised is whether regional trade agreements can play a positive role in strengthening food security in Asia, especially in the context of global food price volatility, and, if so, what kind of domestic policy mix is necessary for a country to benefit from trade liberalization in improving national food security? Governments have adopted differing positions in this debate based on t heir unique profiles and constraints. This publication examines the experience of selected countries with two major regional trade agreements in the region and the ability of those countries to realize their national food security objectives. The book also reviews experiences with regional trade agreements outside the region, and provides commodity-specific perspectives on regional trade agreements.