Chapter 09: Trade Policy, Export Bans, and Import Dependence: Trade policies and import dependence

This chapter examines the complex relationship between trade policy instruments, export restrictions, and food import dependence in South Asian countries. Drawing on international trade theory, food security governance frameworks, and empirical evidence from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, the analysis explores how export bans and other trade restrictions affect domestic and international food markets. The chapter investigates price transmission mechanisms from global to local markets, evaluates the welfare consequences of export restrictions for producers and consumers, and analyzes the structural causes of import dependence. Attention is given to the food security crises triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which exposed vulnerabilities in global food supply chains. The chapter assesses how border measures affect food availability, prices, and diplomatic relations in the region. It offers strategic recommendations for balancing national food sovereignty with market integration, emphasizing the need for comprehensive risk management strategies, strengthened social safety nets, and enhanced regional cooperation to achieve sustainable food security outcomes.