HC Deb 19 January 2004 vol 416 cc1030-1W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the revision of the generalised system of preferences. [148517]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme has traditionally operated for a series of 10-year periods. While we are currently in the cycle for 1995–2004, revisions of the current scheme were agreed at the end of 2003. Details of these revisions can be found inOfficial Journal of the EU of 19 December 2003 and 31 December 2003 (Council Regulations No. 2211/2003 and 2331/2003 respectively). The main change was a one-year rollover, with amendments to the graduation criteria. This revised GSP scheme is therefore due to end on 31 December 2005. Proposals for a new GSP scheme will need to be agreed by 31 December 2004, thus providing EU importers with 12 months' notice to plan for changes to duty rates.

The Commission has indicated its intention to begin the renegotiation process of the EU GSP scheme early this year through regular working party meetings once initial proposals have been published. Officials from my Department will lead on the consultation across Whitehall and industry and, together with colleagues from the UK's Permanent Representation to the EU, make representations on behalf of the UK at these working party meetings. The proposals will be cleared through Parliament by Explanatory Memoranda in the usual way.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific States which are party to the Cotonou Agreement. [148518]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

As outlined in my answer to the hon. Member's question published on 13 January 2004,Official Report, column 696W, no Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has yet been agreed between the EU and an ACP region. Phase I of the negotiations began in September 2002. But the EU only announced the launch of the first EPA negotiations with the Western and Central African regions—CEMAC (Central African Economic and Monetary Community) and ECOWAS (Economic Community of Western African States) in October 2003. Launches of negotiations between the EU and other ACP regions are expected to take place later this year and to continue over several years. EPAs are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2008.