HC Deb 19 October 1999 vol 336 cc458-9W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the ways in which the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Export-Import Bank of the United States co-operate to achieve their objectives; what joint working groups and committees between the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Export-Import Bank of the United States have operated since 1 January 1997; what agreements between the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Export-Import Bank of the United States have been in existence since 1 January 1997; how many personnel from the Export-Import Bank of the United States have visited the Export Credits Guarantee Department since 1 June 1998; and how many personnel from the Export Credits Guarantee Department have visited the Export-Import Bank of the United States since 1 June 1998. [93938]

Mr. Caborn

1. Co-operation between US Eximbank and ECGD to achieve our objectives: ECGD and the Export Import Bank of the United States (US Exim) co-operate in a number of ways to achieve their respective objectives. This includes discussions in multilateral fora such as the International Union of Credit and Investment Insurers (the Berne Union) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OFCD), with the aim of maintaining discipline in the field of Export credits and phasing out trade distorting subsidies. They also hold ad hoc informal discussions.

2. Joint Working Groups, Committees and Agreements that have operated since 1 January 1997: ECGD and US Exim participate in the following Committees and Working Groups:

In the context of the OECD:

  • The Participants to the Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits
  • The Group on the Sector Understanding on Export Credits for Nuclear Power Plant
  • The Group on the Sector Understanding for Civil Aircraft,
  • The consultation Group on Tied Aid
  • The Working Group of Experts on Premium and Related Conditions and the Sub Group of country Risk Experts
  • The Working Party on Export Credits and Credit Guarantees
  • The International Union of Credit and Investment Insurers.

In the context of the OECD:

  • The Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits
  • The Statement of Intent on Officially Supported Export Credits and the environment
  • Agreement on environmental Information Exchange for Large Projects
  • The Berne Union Sector Understandings (on credit terms).

ECGD has a number of Bilateral Co-operation Agreements between various other Export Credit Agencies which at present does not include US Eximbank.

ECGD has entered into discussion with them but the discussions are at an early stage and US Eximbank is yet to respond to our draft agreement and documentation. If US Eximbank wish to pursue this agreement then we would expect to conclude the negotiations next year.

3. Visits by staff to US Eximbank and ECGD since 1 June 1998: Our relationship with US Eximbank cuts across many areas and their meetings take place at all levels with regard to 2 above. Our respective Chief Executives meet and talk to each other on a regular basis.

Visits to our respective office have occurred on the following matters:

  • Aircraft financing matters (2 visits)
  • Project finance matters (1 visit)
  • Co-operation Agreement discussions (2 visits).