Special Preferential Sugar Agreement

HL Deb 04 November 1999 vol 606 c102WA

Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will support measures to bind the market access commitment under the Special Preferential Sugar Agreement in the proposed new World Trade Organisation agreement. [HL4216]

Baroness Hayman

The Special Preferential Sugar (SPS) supply agreement between the EU and certain African, Caribbean and Pacific countries formally lapses in mid-2001, together with other key features of the EU sugar regime. The parties to the agreement are required to begin negotiations before January 2001 on its possible continuation. In particular, they will need to have regard to the outcome of the EU sugar regime in 2000. It would be premature to comment on what may happen to the SPS arrangements under a new World Trade Organisation agreement until the EU/ACP negotiations have been completed.