§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what will be the objectives of the European Union in respect of its initiating a further new world trade round; and what problems the Commission seeks to resolve in respect of specific market problems referred to in paragraph 1.2 of its work programme. [121636]
§ Mr. CabornThe EU objectives for a future round of trade negotiations remain as set out in the October 1999 General Affairs Council Conclusions. This was confirmed at the Porto Informal Ministerial for EU Trade Ministers which I attended on 17–18 March. A copy of these Conclusions has been placed in the Library of the House and is also available on the European Commission's website at:www.europa.eu.int/comm/trade/pdf/agr15en.pdf.
The Commission has an ongoing programme to secure the removal of a wide variety of obstacles to EU exports in a range of third country markets by various means, including resort to the WTO disputes settlement procedure.