Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 520: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she will take at European level to ensure that WTO negotiations on the import of beef and lamb from third countries is done so by the introduction of a carcass limit in conjunction with a tonnage limit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18940/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Agreement was reached in August 2004 on a framework which sets out the overall outline and structure of the next World Trade Organisation, WTO, agreement. The framework provides that the substantial improvement in market access envisaged by the WTO ministerial conference in Doha in 2001 will be achieved through tariff reductions and expansion of tariff quotas, with flexibility in the case of sensitive products. The detailed implementation of the framework agreement is the subject of ongoing negotiation at technical and political level with the aim of concluding an agreement at the WTO ministerial conference in December 2005.

A basic principle of the rules-based international trading system agreed by WTO members is that trade which respects WTO rules should not be impeded. Consequently, imports of meat products on which the appropriate tariff has been paid and which otherwise respect the WTO rules cannot be restrained on the basis of carcass limits or tonnage limits. WTO rules include a special safeguard clause which provides for the application by WTO members of additional duties in the event of a volume surge in imports or a fall in import prices which undermines or threatens to undermine domestic production. The continuation of the special safeguard clause is one of the issues to be agreed in the negotiations on the new agreement.

It is my intention to secure in the context of the WTO negotiations, an import regime, including the continuation of safeguard provisions which protect the interests of Irish beef and lamb producers on the domestic and EU markets, and avail, where appropriate, of the provision for sensitive products in the framework agreement.