§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment his Department has made of the damage to British companies as a result of American retaliatory action in the banana dispute between the EU and the US; [103947]
(2) what representations his Department has received from British companies whose business has been damaged by the banana dispute between the EU and the US. [103943]
§ Mr. CabornThe United States has World Trade Organisation authority to retaliate up to an annual monetary value of $191.4 million against EU goods. The sectors that the US has chosen to include in this authorised retaliation, and the annual value of UK exports is as follows:
US Imports from UK—1997 US Tariff Code Description £ million 85072080 Batteries 13.78 33073050 Bath oils 7.29 49119120 Lithographs 2.20 63022190 Bed linen 1.48 48192000 Cartons 1.42 85167100 Coffee makers 0.37 42023210 Wallets 9.13 42022215 Handbags 0.09 48055000 Felt paper 0.02 Total 26.8 Source:
European Commission
The actual impact on UK companies in the targeted sectors will depend on a number of factors, including the length of time that the retaliatory measures remain in place and the ability of affected companies to find alternative customers for their goods. However, I have received many representations from UK companies affected by the US retaliation, and based upon these representations my assessment is that there is a real risk of damage to British companies in terms of lost trade and jobs. I take the risks very seriously, and this is why the Government and the European Commission are putting every possible effort into resolving this dispute once and for all.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department has taken to resolve the banana dispute between the EU and the US. [103946]
§ Mr. CabornThe UK strongly encouraged the Commission to come forward with a formal proposal for a revised banana regime which ends the banana dispute once and for all and which meets the needs of the460W vulnerable banana producers. Since the Commission's proposal was tabled in November, we have been urging them to consult quickly with the relevant parties, including the US, so that a revised and acceptable banana regime is in place as soon as possible in 2000.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the number of jobs that(a) have been lost and (b) are at risk due to the increased tariff on certain British foods as a result of the banana dispute between the EU and the US.[103948]
§ Mr. CabornThere are no British food exports on the list of products to which the United States has applied retaliatory duties as a result of the EU-US banana dispute.