Written question asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative) on Monday, 8 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 May 2006. It was answered by Ian McCartney (Labour) on Monday, 22 May 2006 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Agricultural Trade Liberalisation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the European Commissioner for Trade about his recent comments on agricultural trade liberalisation; and what assessment he has made of the possible effect those comments will have on the World Trade Organisation trade talks.

Answer: I have not had the opportunity to make representations to the European Commissioner for Trade since my appointment as Minister for Trade, or to discuss his recent comments on the Doha Development Agenda negotiations. However, my predecessors in this post had regular contact with the Commissioner for Trade on a wide range of issues.The UK remains strongly committed to ensuring an ambitious and pro-development outcome to the Doha Round that provides real benefits to developing countries and an overall stimulus to world trade, in line with the mandate agreed in 2001. In agriculture, this means agreeing to significant reductions in trade-distorting domestic support, elimination of export subsidies, and significant liberalisation of trade. We have made clear our view that achieving this requires movement from all the main parties, across the whole breadth of the negotiations—including, but not limited to, agriculture. We will continue to press all key parties, in the EU and beyond, to show sufficient flexibility in all areas of the DDA negotiations to secure a successful outcome.

Secondary information