Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Monday, 9 June 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 June 2003. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Monday, 16 June 2003 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement regarding the GATS negotiations; and what assessment he has made of the benefits of full trade liberalisation as a means to achieving development goals.

Answer: Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State Department for International Development if he will make a statement regarding the GATS negotiations; and what assessment he has made of the benefits of full trade liberalisation as a means to achieving development goals. [118912] Hilary Benn: The GATS negotiations are still in their request-offer stage. The EU has agreed an initial market-access offer and has received market access requests from a number of developing countries. DFID is co-operating with the World bank and UNCTAD to carry out a comprehensive programme of work aimed at understanding the impact of service liberalisation across countries and sectors. We hope this will help developing countries to understand the potential impact of liberalising their own service sectors during the GATS negotiations.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 118912; 407 c3W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Developing countries Trade Trade agreements Free trade General Agreement on Trade in Services
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk