Thailand says it will take part in negotiations aimed at opening South Korea's rice market.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Wednesday that Thailand's announced intent to follow the example of Australia and Argentina is in accordance with the World Trade Organization's recommendations to open talks on import liberalization of various goods and services.

The ministry said because rice exporters like the U.S. and China will likely pursue similar negotiations later this month, talks with those countries should start in earnest by late April or early May.

South Korea must engage in the talks as a 10-year waiver on rice imports granted at the Uruguay Round of trade talks will soon expire.

Government officials have said they will try to maintain the current tariff system to protect local farmers, but conceded that some sort of compromise is inevitable.