A/HRC/12/31* page 19 VI. THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL MARKETS: COPING WITH AND COMBATING VOLATILITY 33. The impact of high food prices on international markets has been greater in countries with fewer domestic alternatives to internationally traded grains, the prices of which rose the most (maize, wheat and rice).3 This is one of the reasons why, in the report on the mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the right to food (A/HRC/10/5/Add.2), the Special Rapporteur emphasized the need for countries to avoid an excessive dependence on food imports and to avoid sacrificing their long-term interest in strengthening their agricultural sector for the production of food crops against their short-term interest in purchasing food at often artificially depressed prices on international markets. At the same time, since the pursuit of self-sufficiency in food is illusory for most countries, the risks associated with international trade should be better managed. It is for this reason that the Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least Developed and Net Food-importing Countries, adopted as part of the WTO agreements (see A/HRC/10/5, paras. 20-25). 34. Indeed, the international markets proved particularly unreliable during the global food crisis of 2007/08. One of the characteristics of the crisis was that a significant number of countries (29, according to one count;21 at least 20 developing countries according to another report)26 resorted to export bans or restrictions, including the raising of export tariffs, to keep their domestic prices down. These measures were successful in a number of instances, particularly in larger countries, such as China or India, whose dependence on imports is limited given that they import no more than 1.5 per cent of their total grain requirements. However, to the extent that such restrictions were imposed simultaneously by a number of exporters representing a significant share of the market, it helped drive availability down and prices up on international markets, severely penalizing the low income net food-importing countries. In a number of countries, the Government therefore concluded agreements with importers or retailers, or imposed price regulations, in order to ensure affordability of food. 35. There are means that countries might use to protect themselves against the risk of sudden price increases on international markets. Some countries establish food reserves at the national or the local level to cushion the impact of price spikes on international markets,27 as seen following the global food crisis. The establishment and management of food reserves may also be a means to ensure sufficiently stable and remunerative prices to smallholders; for instance, in Brazil, the programme for the acquisition of food (Programa de aquisicao de alimentos), conceived to support the marketing of family farmers’ products, is also designed to establish a bridge between 26 The World Bank, Global Economic Prospects, op. cit., p. 123. 27 A/HRC/9/23, para. 32.