§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why, when Article 12 of the Cotonou agreement provides for the consultation whenever the interests of African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries are affected, there was no prior consultation in the case of the proposal from the European Union Trade Commissioner, Mr Lamy, to grant duty free and quota free access to all products from the least developed countries. [HL33]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)The Cotonou agreement contains a commitment to extend duty free and quota free access to least developed countries (LDCs). The Lamy proposal, to grant duty free and quota free access to all products except arms from LDCs, with a transition period for sugar, rice and bananas, is the Commission's response to this commitment. The Commission informed the ACP Secretariat of its proposal shortly after it informed member states, as it is required to do under the Cotonou agreement. Consultations are under way between the Commission, the ACP countries and member states.