§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount by value of US dairy products are imported into the United Kingdom; and if they benefit from the US Dairy Export Incentive Programme. [76207]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 16 March 1999]In 1998 the UK imported dairy products from the US to the value of £3,436,068. 90 per cent. of this figure consisted of imports of ice cream. In 1997–98 and 1998–99 the UK has not been a target market for the US Dairy Export Incentive Programme (which does not in any case cover ice cream), so UK imports of US dairy products have not benefited from this Programme.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of whether the Dairy Export Incentive Programme of the United States is consistent with World Trade Organisation agreements. [76206]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 16 March 1999]Export subsidies are permitted under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, subject to commitments to reduce both the volume of and expenditure on subsidised exports over the period of the Agreement, and to notify these subsidies to the WTO.
The US Dairy Incentive Export Programme is a notified subsidy, and there is no evidence from the most recent figures submitted to suggest that the US is not reducing its agricultural export subsidies in line with the Agriculture Agreement. I therefore have no reason to believe that this measure is not in compliance with WTO rules. However, the compatibility with WTO rules of any trade measure can be definitively determined only under WTO dispute settlement procedures.