§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the EU in respect of the temporary tariff on imported fertiliser. [137272]
§ Mr. CabornThe European Community has imposed anti-dumping measures on imports of various types of fertiliser from a number of countries; these currently include provisional duties (lasting six months) on imports of ammonium nitrate from Poland and the Ukraine. The decision on whether to impose provisional measures rests with the European Commission after consulting member states; the decision whether to impose definitive (five-year) measures rests with the Council of Ministers, acting by a simple majority.
The Government consider any proposal for antidumping measures on the economic evidence presented and against the criteria set out in the European Community's Anti-dumping Regulation. In cases involving fertilisers we give full weight to the impact of proposed measures on both producers and farmers, both when consulted by the Commission and in the position we take in the Council of Ministers.