§ Ms DrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the World Trade Organisation as the forum in which to conduct future negotiations on a multilateral agreement on investment; [59182]
(2) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on a multinational agreement on investment. [59257]
§ Mr. WilsonIt now looks most unlikely that negotiations on the multilateral agreement on investment (MAI) will resume. The Government remain committed to the development of international rules on investment. Our assessment is that the World Trade Organisation is an appropriate forum to develop such a framework, and this view is shared by our EU partners. However, any270W WTO negotiation must be on the basis of a fresh agenda that takes proper account of social, environmental and development issues.