§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will ask the EEC Council to discuss the Cairns group proposals for agriculture in the Uruguay round negotiations; and if he will list the main differences between these proposals and those put forward by the EEC.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI have been asked to reply.
In preparation for and during the mid-term meeting of the Uruguay round in December, the Council discussed agriculture at length, taking account of all negotiating proposals, including those of the Cairns group. Both the EC and Cairns group proposals include long and short-term measures. For the long term, the Cairns group has proposed the elimination of trade-distorting policies. For the short term, it has proposed a freeze on, followed by reductions in, overall agricultural support and protection, with specific action on administered support prices, export subsidies and import barriers. The EC has proposed for the long term a significant reduction in (but 768W a survey aggregating all task force expenditure arid outputs. The breakdown requested is not available except at disproportionate cost.