HC Deb 19 October 1999 vol 336 cc453-4W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has consulted the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport, and the Regions, concerning the impact on rates of deforestation of the proposed elimination of tariffs on wood products. [94462]

Mr. Caborn

The Government are very much seized of the importance of ensuring that trade liberalisation is consistent with sustainable development. My Department has been, and remains, in close consultation with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and other interested Departments on the range of environmental issues raised by the prospective new round of trade negotiations. With UK support, the European Commission is currently undertaking a sustainability impact assessment which will cover particular trade sectors, including forest products, likely to be included in the new round. This impact assessment will be used by the European Union to inform its negotiating position in the future trade negotiations.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will oppose the proposal to establish a World Trade Organisation agreement on forest products. [93835]

Mr. Caborn

We do not rule out the possibility of an agreement on tariff reduction on forest products as part of a comprehensive round of trade negotiations.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on rates of deforestation of the proposed elimination of tariffs on wood products. [94461]

Mr. Caborn

With UK support, the European Commission is currently undertaking a sustainability impact assessment which will cover particular trade sectors, including forest products, likely to be included in the prospective new round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. This impact assessment, along with the views of others, such as those received by my Department in our recent consultation on tariff priorities for the new round, will be considered in forming a UK Government position on the issue.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the mechanisms within Government to ensure that the Government's policies on forest conservation are taken into account when its stance in World Trade Organisation negotiations is being considered. [93833]

Mr. Caborn

In formulating the Government's approach to the negotiations, the Department has consulted widely. I am confident that the range of mechanisms for such consultations will ensure that all other areas of Government policy are fully considered in developing our position for the negotiations.