§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will set out her priorities for the forthcoming World Trade Organisation Round with regard to improving market access to developing countries. [91302]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe Government's objectives for the proposed Millennium Round of negotiations are set out in the Minister of Trade's answer to the question put by the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Stunell) of 21 January 1999,Official Report, column 548–49. The priority for the forthcoming World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle is to launch a comprehensive set of negotiations which will, among other things, enable developing countries to make solid and substantial gains. A key part of this is the opportunity that broad-based negotiations will offer developing countries to significantly improve their access to markets.
Agriculture and textiles are particularly important areas for developing countries. The 1994 agreement on Agriculture in the WTO contains a commitment to continue the reform process started in the Uruguay round by further reducing support and promotion for trade in agriculture. The UK actively supports further progress in this area. We will also be vigilant in ensuring the EU's full implementation of the agreement to abolish quotas on textiles and clothing, and will seek an acceleration of this. In the forthcoming Millennium Round of trade negotiations, the UK and the EU are advocating a comprehensive tariff negotiation aiming at reducing tariffs, removing all tariff peaks and at harmonising the tariff structures of all WTO members across all non-agricultural products.
The Government also strongly supports the EU's proposal that WTO members should agree at Seattle to provide duty free access for essentially all products from the Least Developed countries no later than the end of the round.