International Development

Thailand and Vietnam, the world’s second and third largest rice exporters, reportedly held talks in October 2022 to discuss a proposed rice cartel. If adopted, it is far from certain that a rice cartel would work. Nonetheless, the possibility remains that a rice cartel will form and at least partially achieve its goals. China, which is predicted to remain self-sufficient in domestic rice production for the foreseeable future, could also throw its support behind a cartel. While a rice cartel faces uncertain prospects, it is in America’s overall interest to block the proposal now.

Post-war reconstruction will be costly and complex, but it is also an opportunity for Ukraine to build back stronger in terms of economic modernization and governance, including full integration into the European Community. To shield the reconstruction process from corruption, post-war Ukraine will require a robust anti-corruption governing body to monitor the use of humanitarian aid, a strong court system to prosecute war crimes, and an independent media to counter misinformation and disinformation. Ukraine’s civil society is critical to achieving these benchmarks, and now is the time for civil society activists to mobilize around the high levels of national sentiment and extensive volunteer networks that have formed over the course of the war.