§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has made to the European Commissions about the findings of the WTO Appellate Body on the EU banana regime; and if she will make a statement. [40157]
§ Clare ShortThe Government have been keeping in close touch with the European Commission since the WTO Appellate Body published its findings on the EU banana regime last Autumn. The Commission made proposals earlier this year for changes to the banana regime, to bring it into line with the WTO ruling, and for the new assistance framework for traditional producers in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
Negotiations on these proposals are now well advanced in Brussels. As the leading advocate of the developing countries in the Caribbean who have traditionally supplied bananas to the UK, the Government have made it a priority of its current Presidency of the EU to reach agreement.