HC Deb 16 July 2002 vol 389 c177W
Mr. Davidson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the impact of the new United States Farm Act on the(a) enlargement of the EU and (b) the development of agricultural exports from the Third World. [69227]

Peter Hain

The information is as follows:

  1. (a) The Government are a champion of EU enlargement and are committed to concluding negotiations by the end of this year with those candidates who are ready. The US Farm Act will have no direct consequences for the substance and timing of the EU enlargement process.
  2. (b) Further liberalisation of agricultural trade is important for fostering trade led growth, and thus poverty reduction, in developing countries. These are key UK objectives in implementing the WTO's Doha Development Agenda. Regrettably, the US Farm Act seems likely to further distort world markets.

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