General Agreement on Trade in Services

HC Deb 12 April 2002 vol 383 cc635-6W

Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which services the United Kingdom will(a) as part of the European Union and (b) unilaterally be offering for liberalisation under the World Trade Organisation's General Agreement on Trade in Services. [47416]

Ms Hewitt

The United Kingdom negotiates in the World Trade Organisation as part of the European Union. Offers of liberalisation of services will be considered in the light of requests received from other WTO Members. The Doha Ministerial Declaration set June 2002 as the date for the submission of initial requests. The Government will consult on any offer they are minded to make as part of the EU's offer. Liberalisation is, however, a matter of domestic policy choice. The current negotiations under the General Agreement on Trade in Services cannot force liberalisation where we do not wish it.