§ Mr. AlexanderTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to support calls from developing countries to extend the deadline for compliance with the Uruguay Round agreements. [116111]
§ Clare ShortThe UK, with our EU partners, recognises the difficulties faced by some developing countries in implementing WTO Agreements. We are ready to look sympathetically at requests for deadline extensions on a case-by-case basis, and agree that there should be no action to enforce implementation for the duration of negotiations on a new trade Round. Consultations are currently under way in Geneva on this and other implementation issues and I hope that a formally agreed position will emerge soon.
In the meantime, our £16 million programme of trade-related technical assistance is helping developing countries participate in the multilateral trading system more effectively. (Details have been placed in the House of Commons Library). This programme provides assistance with implementation of Uruguay Round Agreements.