§ Lord Nasebyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current status of the negotiations on the proposed European Union-Singapore free trade area agreement. [HL5401]
§ The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)The Singapore Government have made clear that they wish to see a free trade agreement negotiated between the EU and Singapore. Singapore has lobbied EU member states and the European Commission in favour of this proposal. As yet the Commission has not put a formal recommendation to the Council of Ministers on how the EU should respond. The UK has strong interests in trade with Singapore, as its principal European trading partner.