HC Deb 27 June 2000 vol 352 cc462-3W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to increase(a) public involvement in the WTO decision-making process and (b) openness in the operation of the WTO. [127463]

Mr. Caborn

The Government launched a consultation exercise before Seattle and continues to receive and respond to public concerns through correspondence as well as the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk/worldtrade. I, my colleagues and our officials also hold regular meetings with business, NGOs and trade unions. The UK has, since Seattle, pressed for progress on WTO reform, and in particular on issues relating to consensus building and communication. The WTO' s General Council agreed earlier this year that a consultation process should be launched on improvements to WTO consultative and decision-making procedures. We await the outcome of this consultative process.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he has made since the Seattle meeting in securing reform of the WTO. [127467]

Mr. Caborn

The Government launched a consultation exercise before Seattle and continues to receive and respond to public concerns through correspondence as well as the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk/worldtrade. On 7–8 February, the WTO General Council meeting agreed that a consultation process should be launched on improvements to WTO consultative and decision-making procedures. We await the outcome of this consultative process.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy in respect of the admission of China into the WTO. [127469]

Mr. Caborn

The UK supports China's accession to the WTO on the right terms. We welcome the European Commission's success in negotiating an EU/China bilateral market access agreement. Of course, it is essential that China's commitments upon accession to the WTO are clearly set out and reviewed at regular intervals to ensure adherence.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he is making in achieving clarification of the relationship between multi-lateral environmental agreements and the WTO rules. [127468]

Mr. Caborn

The UK and EU have proposed that a new Round of WTO negotiations includes a clarification of the relationship between WTO rules and trade measures taken within multi-lateral environmental agreements. We are continuing our efforts to build a consensus among WTO members for this proposal.