Search Results

1-20 of 113 results for subject:Trade

Show detailed: On Off

Results: 10 20 50 100

Sort by: Newest first Oldest first

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, What support her Department is giving to coffee farmers who face poverty as a result of the collapse of coffee prices. (Failed OPQ)

Asked by

Doug Naysmith (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 May 2003

Reference

111522; 404 c737W;404 c733W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to put new momentum into the Doha trade round; and if she will make a statement. - Includes ref to Chatham House Speech, text at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk.

Asked by

Robert Key (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

9 April 2003

Reference

107550; 403 c300-1W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of Doha trade negotiations with respect to the 31st March deadline; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Robert Key (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

9 April 2003

Reference

107545; 403 c300W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, What representations she has received about the impact of the collapse of coffee prices on poverty reduction in Ethiopia.

Asked by

Andy Reed (Labour; Co-operative Party)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Oral questions - Lead

Status

Answered

Date

26 March 2003

Reference

402 c273-4; 104777

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

Answered by

Clare Short (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

26 March 2003

Reference

402 c273-4

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

Answered by

Clare Short (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

26 March 2003

Reference

402 c273-4

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the likely impact on developing countries of trade liberation, with particular reference to the control of water supplies.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

5 March 2003

For answer on

10 March 2003

Answered on

10 March 2003

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the likely impact on developing countries of trade liberalisation, with particular reference to the control of water supplies. [101873] Clare Short: The impact on developing countries of trade liberalisation depends on a variety of factors such as the nature and extent of initial trade distortions, whether trade liberalisation is comprehensive or limited to a few sectors, and whether other countries also open up their markets. As a result, estimates of impact vary widely. One assessment by the World Bank indicates that comprehensive multilateral trade liberalisation backed up with increased aid for trade related infrastructure (e.g. roads and ports) could lift an additional 300 million people out of poverty by 2015. The General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS) provides the framework for multilateral (WTO) negotiations between countries on the liberalisation of trade in services, including water supply. The GATS is a bottom-up agreement, which means that countries themselves decide whether--and when--to open up their service sectors to foreign competition. Nor does GATS require or encourage countries to privatise public services. Should WTO members choose to involve the private sector, there is nothing under the GATS to prevent or pressure them into a specific public or private service delivery model. My Department's priority is to make sure the poor benefit from improved water and sanitation services, through effective regulation and appropriate tariff structures, including subsidies for the poorest, if required. In all water and sanitation services, whether municipalities chose to involve the private sector or not, the principle of cost recovery is important and must be recognised as central to sustainability. Effective institutions that are accountable, representative and transparent are essential to manage and regulate the water sector.

Date

10 March 2003

Reference

101873; 401 c39-40W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will raise the management of (a) forest products and (b) bushmeat at the forthcoming Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial Conference in April.

Asked by

Barry Gardiner (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

6 March 2003

Reference

400 c1148-9W;400 c1137W; 101324

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which ministers and civil servants will attend the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial Conference in April.

Asked by

Barry Gardiner (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

6 March 2003

Reference

400 c1149W;400 c1138W; 101326

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures the Government is taking to make the eradication of poverty the primary aim of world trade rules.

Asked by

John M Taylor (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

23 January 2003

For answer on

28 January 2003

Answered on

28 January 2003

Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures the Government are taking to make the eradication of poverty the primary aim of world trade rules. [93732] Clare Short: World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules need to apply to all members. But they must also be achievable by developing countries, with realistic implementation schedules and targets. New rules require the right balance between standardisation and flexibility. For rules to be strong and binding, they need to have enough flexibility to meet the varying needs of the WTO membership and to recognise that WTO members are at different stages of development. Without flexibility, new WTO agreements will be stuck at the lowest common denominator. This will lead to richer members making agreements amongst themselves outside the WTO and without consideration for the impacts on developing countries. The term special and differential treatment is used to describe special provisions for developing countries in existing WTO agreements1. Many developing countries complain that in the Uruguay Round the application of special and differential treatment and the treatment of different country circumstances were haphazard and that longer implementation deadlines for developing countries were decided arbitrarily. There needs to be a better application of flexibility in designing future WTO rules. Appropriate flexibility should be integrated systematically into WTO agreements, rather than added on as an afterthought. Special and differential treatment reforms will eventually link into the poverty reduction strategies. Thus the integration of trade policy reform is essential if poor people are to benefit from trade liberalisation. In addition to special and differential treatment, the UK has been supporting the Integrated Framework. The Integrated Framework has two aims: to identify trade capacity building and technical assistance needs in least developed countries to which the multilateral agencies and donors can then make a coordinated response; and to mainstream trade into least developed countries poverty reduction strategies, so that pro-poor trade policies are included in a consistent manner in a country's overall development strategy. The Integrated Framework is based on the principle of country ownership and partnership. It is now being implemented in 14 least developed countries and eventually will be extended to Low Income countries. Ultimately the Integrated Framework should cease to be necessary as trade becomes successfully integrated into poverty reduction strategies. 1 These are in the form of (1) provisions aimed at increasing trade opportunities, (2) provisions that call upon WTO members to safeguard the interest of developing countries, (3) flexibility of commitments, (4) transitional time periods, and (5) technical assistance.

Date

28 January 2003

Reference

93732; 398 c750-1W;398 c748-9W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, What steps she will take to address the difficulties faced by poor people in coffee growing countries. (Failed OPQ)

Asked by

Bob Blizzard (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

22 January 2003

Reference

92209; 398 c305W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to assist developing countries to carry out impact assessments on the effects of trade liberalisation agreements, broken down by country.

Asked by

Colin Challen (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

14 January 2003

For answer on

20 January 2003

Answered on

20 January 2003

Mr. Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to assist developing countries to carry out impact assessments on the effects of trade liberalisation agreements, broken down by country. [91354] Clare Short: DFID supports a variety of trade related technical cooperation programmes which are designed to help developing countries participate more effectively in trade negotiations and to take advantage of trade opportunities. A number of these programmes include consultancy or study funds which can be used to undertake impact assessments or to secure advice on trade liberalisation issues. Particular examples include: a study of the economic effects of EU bilateral trade agreements with developing countries, which includes case studies on South Africa, Egypt, Mexico, Chile, Turkey and the MERCOSUR Common Market; a study on the possible effects of changes in the EU Sugar Regime on African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar exporting countries; the Integrated Framework Trust Fund for least developed countries (LDC), which is also supported by multilateral and other bilateral donors, has helped LDCs to mainstream trade issues into national poverty reduction strategies. Support has so far been provided to Cambodia, Madagascar and Mauritania; Malawi Trade and Poverty Programme, which helps to build capacity in Malawian institutions to formulate, negotiate and implement trade reform strategies that are inclusive and pro- poor; and Trade Policy Development Project (with the World bank). This has included a broad range of trade related policy and impact studies, such as on the cashmere sector in Mongolia, trade and foreign exchange policies in Iran, the impact of WTO accession on the Russian telecommunications sector, trade facilitation and standards reform in the Asia Pacific region, and the linkages between regional trade policies and economic integration in south Asia and south eastern Europe.

Date

20 January 2003

Reference

91354; 398 c30-1W;398 c31W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with the Treasury on the interaction between the new US Government programme to reward emerging markets that meet their critera of good governance and the Chancellor of the Exchequer's new International Development Finance Facility.

Asked by

Robert Key (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

19 December 2002

Reference

87874; 396 c905W;396 c903W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, What measures her Department is taking to assist those employed in West African cocoa production. (Failed OPQ)

Asked by

Chris Pond (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

11 December 2002

Reference

84710; 396 c339W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to increase aid for trade-related capacity building.

Asked by

Martin Caton (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

4 December 2002

Reference

83362; 395 c858W;395 c856W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with EU ministers about trade rules with Ethiopia affecting (a) tariff and (b) EU farming subsidies, with regard to (i) coffee and (ii) other products.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

20 November 2002

For answer on

2 December 2002

Answered on

2 December 2002

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with EU Ministers about trade rules with Ethiopia affecting (a) tariff and (b) EU farming subsidies, with regard to (i) coffee and (ii) other products. [83154] Clare Short: At the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 18-19 November I took part in discussions, with fellow EU Ministers, about the current state of the international coffee market. At this meeting I reiterated, with reference to Ethiopia as a case in point, some of the challenges facing a number of commodity dependent countries. I highlighted the need to assist these countries by promoting economic diversification as well as by delivering on CAP reform. We recognise the damaging impact that trade- distorting subsidies have on developing countries agriculture sectors. At the Doha Ministerial meeting last year it was agreed that agriculture negotiations would aim to achieve "substantial reductions in trade- distorting domestic support". The UK fully supports these negotiations and is pressing for ambitious reform of the CAP to help the EU to participate effectively in the WTO negotiations. While there is some preferential trade access to the EU for developing countries, more needs to be done to reduce the tariffs that the EU currently applies to a range of agricultural and non-agricultural products that offer potential alternative export trade opportunities for these countries. In order to tackle these barriers, the Doha meeting agreed that we should reduce barriers to trade in all products and particularly tariff peaks, high tariffs and tariff escalation. To ensure these negotiations result in liberalisation that benefits the world's poor, we are working to make these commitments become a reality. Through our direct assistance programme we have worked with the private sector on a scoping study of opportunities and constraints relating to Ethiopia exporting horticultural produce to EU markets and are now planning some follow-up work.

Date

2 December 2002

Reference

83154; 395 c529W;395 c528-9W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is giving to the promotion of fair trade. - Inc figures.

Asked by

John Lyons (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

27 November 2002

For answer on

2 December 2002

Answered on

2 December 2002

Mr. Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is giving to the promotion of fair trade. [84501] Clare Short: Through the Development Awareness Fund, DFID has provided £120,000 to the Fairtrade Foundation (FTF) over three years (2001-03) in support of its efforts to target new consumers through its annual Fairtrade Fortnight campaigns. The Fortnight is designed to highlight the positive developmental impacts of fair trade and the range of fair trade products on offer. DFID is also funding a project that addresses a recognised bottleneck within fair trade--namely the limited number of products for which international fair trade standards exist. This project (at a total cost of £300,000) aims to develop five new product standards, secure the registration of 20 new producer groups and help bring an additional 20 new fair trade products to supermarket shelves over the next two years. The target is to increase the retail value of fair trade sales in the UK to over £100 million by 2004, and by so doing, extend the benefits of fair trade to a greater number of producers in developing countries. By expanding the scale of fair trade activities, the project also aims to secure a sustainable future for the FTF, so that its core operational costs (including the cost of subsequent product development) are fully funded from the income it receives from licensees. DFID's support to the FT movement is part of a broader programme to encourage wider adoption of ethical trading codes and standards by major transnational corporations, and continuing efforts to reform the international trading system.

Date

2 December 2002

Reference

84501; 395 c530-1W;395 c530W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action she is taking to help governments in poorer countries in their efforts to provide targeted support and protection for local producers.

Asked by

Phil Sawford (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

27 November 2002

Reference

82911; 395 c265W

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what initiatives are being pursued by her Department to provide targeted support and protection for local producers of developing countries in order for them to benefit from international trade; and if she will make a statement; what initiatives are being pursued...

Asked by

Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

25 November 2002

Reference

395 c28-9W; 82521;82522

House

House of Commons

Dept for International Development

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if it is her policy to support (a) co-operation between coffee producing governments to stop more beans entering the market than can be sold and (b) the scheme agreed by coffee producing governments to reduce supply by increasing the quality of...

Asked by

Tony Worthington (Labour)

Answering body

Department for International Development

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

4 November 2002

Reference

78053; 392 c29W

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher