§ 72. Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current progress in negotiations on Lomé IV.
§ Mr. Chris PattenNegotiations on a successor to the third Lomé convention, which expires in February 1990, were opened formally in October last year. The first European Community—African Caribbean Pacific ministerial negotiating meeting, which I shall be attending, is in Brazzaville later this week.
§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettWhen the Minister attends the meeting, will he press the European Commission to consider carefully the implications of the 1992 single market and its impact on African, Caribbean and Pacific countries? Will he ensure that those Third world countries do not lose out in the single market? Does he recognise the grave danger that the fat cats of Europe will get the cream and milk while the Third world countries will be left with only a cracked saucer?
§ Mr. PattenI find myself in the unusual position of agreeing with a good deal of what the hon. Gentleman said. We have to make absolutely certain that 1992 does not create a fortress Europe, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear. We have to do all that we can in the re-negotiation of the Lomé convention to ensure that we liberalise the existing trade arrangements where we can. We have set out our thoughts on that, and in particular we have made clear our views on bananas and the importance of guaranteeing the position of our traditional suppliers in 1992 and thereafter.
§ Miss LestorWhile the hon. Gentleman is in the mood to agree with my hon. Friend, may I ask whether he has had time to look at the charter for Lomé IV produced by the world development movement? Two of the points in that charter may well be in line with what he is thinking, and I should welcome his comments. First, the Economic Community, in discussing 1992, should publish a report on the anticipated costs and benefits to African Caribbean Pacific states and fully compensate those that are adversely affected, and secondly that the Economic Community should abolish all remaining tariffs and non-tariff barriers on processed products from ACP states. As the Minister shares the Opposition's concern about the move towards 1992, I should welcome his co-operation on those matters.
§ Mr. PattenI agree with a good deal of the world development movement's charter on the Lomé renegotiations. In regard to tariffs, as I said earlier, we are pressing for further liberalisation. For example, we are pressing for rum to be treated like other industrial products. It seems inconceivable that after 1992 we could continue with a quota on rum and with compartmentalisation. I have mentioned the importance of liberalising the arrangements. The hon. Lady also mentioned an economic assessment of the consequences of 1992. We have argued with ACP countries that they should benefit from a larger and more dynamic market after 1992. The European Community has to help them develop their own processing and manufacturing capacity, for example, by simplifying the existing rules of origin.
§ Dame Peggy FennerMay I say how much I appreciate my hon. Friend's concern about the effects of 1992? Will 19 he pay particular attention to the Madrid appeal—the document produced by the 22 countries of the Council of Europe in their campaign for greater public awareness in the North-South campaign?
§ Mr. PattenThat was a very useful campaign, particularly as my hon. Friend the Member for Medway (Dame P. Fenner) played a part in drawing up that declaration. We were pleased to be able to make a small contribution to that campaign, which quite properly accomplished its objectives.