§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies his Department has carried out or commissioned into the environmental consequences of the proposed World Trade Organisation agreement on forest products. [93836]
§ Mr. MullinThe UK and its EU partners are committed to the launch of a comprehensive Round of multilateral trade negotiations at the 3rd WTO Ministerial meeting in Seattle (30 November-3 December). The UK does not believe that a sectoral approach to trade negotiations in advance of the Seattle Ministerial is the best way forward.
The European Commission is currently undertaking a sustainability assessment of the WTO new Round. The UK supports this work and UK Government officials have met with the consultants to discuss progress. This study will consider the range of possible sustainability impacts in all trade sectors likely to be affected by the Round, including forest products, and will be used by the European Union to inform its negotiating position at Seattle and thereafter.