The 2007-08 experience with the surge in international market cereal prices illustrated the unreliability of some of these trading relationships, as export restrictions by India and Pakistan contributed to higher prices for consumers in Bangladesh and Afghanistan (Dorosh, 2008). Liberalising agricultural trade within a regional agreement needs strong political will and countries have to be prepared to give up some autonomy in designing and implementing their domestic food policies. With governments committed to pursue interventionist policies to stabilise prices, regional trade flows are often sacrificed when they appear to stand in the way of national food security - despite the longer-term costs.