§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her objective to achieve a total elimination of all tariff barriers by all World Trade Organisation members. [149146]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe chances of a total elimination of all Tariff barriers by all members of the World Trade Organisation are remote. Our aim is to reduce barriers as much as reasonably possible. A number of studies have concluded that the elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers would bring major benefits. In recent years, studies by Michigan University and the World782W Bank suggest that the elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers in industry and agriculture could boost global incomes by between ․450 billion and ․830 billion per annum over the longer term. From time-to-time for short periods tariffs or safeguards may have merit but our broad approach is to press for the elimination of as many tariffs as possible.