§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 7 May 2003,Official Report, column 687W, whether Iraqi imports will now be eligible for the reduced rate of customs duty under the Generalised System of Preferences. [119215]
§ John HealeyEligibility under the Generalised System of Preferences is strictly a matter for the European Commission.
Iraqi exporters cannot start to use GSP until administrative arrangements between the European Commission and the appropriate Iraqi authority are in place.
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Customs and Excise have changed the treatment of Iraqi goods coming into the UK since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1483. [119322]
§ John HealeyAs set out by the Department of Trade and Industry in a Notice to Importers, Import restrictions on goods from Iraq coming into the UK have been lifted in accordance with UN Resolution 1483, with the exception of cultural objects. All other imports from Iraq will be treated in the same way as all third country imports.