Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the abolition of export credit refunds by the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5655/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The framework agreement for the next WTO round which was concluded in Geneva in August 2004 committed member countries, including the EU, to negotiate detailed rules, including an end date for the parallel elimination of all forms of export subsidies and for the introduction of disciplines on export measures with equivalent effect. At the WTO Hong Kong ministerial conference, which took place in December 2005, member countries agreed to the parallel elimination of all forms of export subsidy by the end of 2013. The end date relates to export refunds, export credits, the trade distorting practices of state trading enterprises and certain food aid practices. The date will only be confirmed on completion of all modalities for the new round.