§ Mr. VazTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her policy in respect of the measures proposed by the European Parliament to preserve the market position of Eastern Caribbean bananas against competition from bananas produced in central and South America. [1050]
§ Mrs. RocheThe position of Eastern Caribbean banana imports into the EU market is closely related to the special provisions of the EU banana regime. This regime is currently the subject of dispute settlement proceedings in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which are not yet completed. The Parliament's views on Commission proposals for changes to the regime will be taken into account when the Council of Ministers comes to decide on the future of the regime in the light of the final outcome of the current WTO dispute.
The Government are conscious of our historic commitments to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) banana producers, including those in the Eastern Caribbean, and of our obligations as members of the WTO.