HC Deb 23 October 2002 vol 391 c326W
Syd Rapson

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what she is doing to help developing countries protect their infant industries until they are strong enough to compete in world markets and to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of these industries. [76272]

Clare Short

There is mixed evidence on the effectiveness of infant industry protection. We believe that a multilateral trade system built on the principles of non-discrimination and market opening, combined with providing assistance to enterprise development across the board, is the best way of increasing the efficiency and competitiveness in developing countries.