§ Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What decisions on export subsidies the leaders of the G8 countries have called for to be taken by July, and by whom; whether any of these fall to the United States Government; and whether they will propose the ending of agricultural export subsidies by the European Union. [HL3345]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The G8 leaders' statement on trade at the Sea Island summit underlined their commitment to achieving ambitious results in the current round of WTO negotiations, including in the key issue of agriculture. Substantially reducing trade-distorting agriculture subsidies was agreed to be one of the core issues in negotiations.
§ The detail of how agricultural export subsidies should be tackled is one of the issues currently being negotiated at the WTO. The EU and other WTO members aim to come to a framework agreement by the end of July, which we hope will include commitments on agricultural export subsidies.
§ As called for by the UK, the EU has already made a significant move on export subsidies, having stated its readiness to negotiate an end date to all its export subsidies, provided that other developed countries agree to eliminate their own forms of agricultural export subsidies in parallel—including the subsidy elements of US export credits and food aid.
§ All WTO members will need to work together constructively to ensure that we have a framework agreement by July.
§ Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What issues will be discussed at the European Union and United States summit on 25 and 26 June; and whether these include the ending of agricultural export subsidies. [HL3346]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: EU and US leaders discussed a range of issues, including the transatlantic economic partnership, Middle East, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, HIV/AIDS, Sudan/Darfur, and Iraq. Negotiations on trade rules were not on the agenda. As called for by the UK, the EU has already made a significant move on agricultural export subsidies, having stated its readiness to negotiate an end date to all its export subsidies, provided that other developed countries agree to eliminate their own forms 41WA of agricultural export subsidies in parallel—including the subsidy elements of US export credits and food aid This shows that Europe is serious about opening up markets in agriculture, particularly for developing countries.
§ Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether the forthcoming agendas of COREPER (European Union Committee of Permanent Representatives) and the Agriculture and Fisheries Council include the ending of agricultural export subsidies. [HL3347
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The agreed EU negotiating mandate for the current WTO trade round gives the European Commission considerable flexibility for manoeuvre. As called for by the UK, the EU has already made a significant move on agricultural export subsidies, having stated in a joint letter by Commissioners Lamy and Fischler on 9 May its readiness to negotiate an end date to all its export subsidies, provided that other developed countries agree to eliminate their own forms of agricultural export subsidies in parallel including the subsidy elements of US export credits and food aid. This shows that Europe is serious about opening up markets in agriculture, particularly for developing countries COREPER and the Agriculture and Fisheries Council are regularly updated on WTO negotiations.