HC Deb 20 November 1996 vol 285 cc577-9W
Mr. Wareing

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a breakdown by sector of(a) imports and (b) exports with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia since the lifting of sanctions in November 1995. [4775]

Mr. Nelson

The data are published monthly by HM Customs and Excise in Business Monitor MM20, "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom with countries outside the European Community (Extra-EC Trade)".

Mr. Wareing

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on proposals to extend the terms of the European Union agricultural generalised system of preference scheme to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement. [4772]

Mr. Nelson

The European Commission is committed, under the terms of the new generalised system of preferences regulation for agricultural products, to bring forward a proposal to examine the application of the agricultural GSP arrangements that will apply from 1 January 1997 to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. No proposal has yet been received from the European Commission.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in the planning of a promotional event to encourage trade with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [4774]

Mr. Nelson

My Department has taken a number of initiatives to promote trade with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Theses include organising a successful major trade promotion event in London in June which coincided with the visit of the Federal Minister of Trade. Over 160 business representatives were present; my hon. Friend the Member for Amber Valley (Mr. Oppenheim), the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in this Department, was the UK keynote speaker. Last month, in association with the London chamber of commerce and industry, my Department mounted trade promotion events to coincide with the visits to the UK of the British ambassador to Belgrade and a trade delegation from Montenegro led by the Montenegrin Prime Minister. Both events were well attended. The ambassador also spoke at a series of events outside London organised by my Department to strengthen UK-Federal Republic of Yugoslavia trade and commercial links. Other events are planned for the future to build on the momentum already generated; these include a trade mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia early in 1997.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans there are for the European Union to conclude a trade agreement with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; and if the trade conditions of the 1982 trade and co-operation agreement between the European Community and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will be extended to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [4773]

Mr. Nelson

EU Foreign Ministers have agreed that trade and co-operation agreements can be concluded in due course with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and certain other countries in south-eastern Europe, subject to the fulfilment of political and economic conditions. The Commission is currently undertaking exploratory contacts with the countries concerned, including FRY.

The Commission has recently proposed to the Council that the trade preferences contained in the 1982 agreement, which have been operating since February 1992 following suspension in November 1991, should now be extended to cover FRY. This is welcomed by the Government.