HC Deb 04 February 1998 vol 305 c663W
Mr. Fearn

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the growth rate of trade between Poland and the United Kingdom in each year since 1990; and what assessment she has made of the prospects for trade over the next five years. [26812]

Mrs. Roche

The growth rate of trade (in goods and services) between Poland and the United Kingdom since 1990 has been as follows:

UK-Poland bi-lateral Trade—percentage change over previous year
Year Trade in goods and services
1990 10.7
1991 14.5
1992 38.7
1993 20.7
1994 7.2
1995 24.6
1996 22.1
1997 n/a

I anticipate that UK-Poland trade will continue to remain healthy: Poland has been identified by the Export Forum as a priority market and will begin negotiations for accession to the European Union on 31 March this year.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the current tariff regime between Poland and the United Kingdom. [26813]

Mrs. Roche

As for all other EU Member States, trade relations between the UK and Poland are governed by the EU/Poland Europe Agreement. The Agreement provides the framework for Poland's gradual integration into the EU. The trade provisions of the Agreement have been in force since March 1992.

Under the terms of the Agreement, the EU and Poland will gradually establish a free trade area, within a ten year period, and in accordance with the provisions of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Agreement is subject to periodic examination by the WTO' s Committee on Regional Trade Agreements.

Tariffs are being dismantled asymmetrically, reflecting the different levels of economic development of the two parties. While Poland has until the end of 1999 to abolish tariffs on EU industrial products, Polish goods already enter the EU duty free.

Trade in agricultural products is subject to different arrangements, based on increasing mutual concessions on a product-by-product basis.

The Department attaches considerable importance to the strict implementation of the provisions of the Europe Agreement in order to reduce the barriers to trade between the UK and Poland. This is essential in order to assist Poland with the completion of its economic transition and its preparations for accession to the EU.