§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Commission to respond to Belize's request for a larger banana quota within the European Union regime; and if he will make a statement on the Government's policy toward the transfer of Banana Licence tonnage between members of the Caribbean Banana Association. [8158]
§ Mr. RookerThe European Union banana regime sets a specific quota for Belize of 40,000 tonnes. The Government have always recognised that this is insufficient to cover the increases in production already in the pipeline in 1992 and, as a result of pressure from the UK, an additional quota of 15,000 tonnes was reserved for Belize within the tariff quota for third country and non-traditional ACP bananas in December 1994.
The Commission made a proposal in 1995 which would allow transfers of unused quotas between Caribbean producers but the Council has yet to agree to it. The UK has always supported this proposal. The current WTO dispute could have implications for both of these issues.
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§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects a resolution of the appeal by the European Union against the WTO decision regarding the European Union banana regime. [8159]
§ Mr. RookerThe ruling by the WTO appellate body on the dispute over the European Union banana regime is expected in September and will be adopted by the dispute settlement body within 30 days following circulation of the report to WTO members.