Written answers

Thursday, 18 October 2007

Department of Agriculture and Food

World Trade Organisation

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the initiatives she has taken to date in 2007 to ensure that non-trade issues will form an integral part of the next round of World Trade Organisation talks. [24560/07]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The negotiating mandate for the current round of WTO negotiations, set out in the November 2001 Doha Ministerial Declaration, states that non-trade concerns must be taken in account in the final agreement of the round.

It is on this basis that I have sought and continue to seek recognition in the WTO agriculture negotiations of the additional costs incurred by EU producers in implementing non-trade measures such as environmental, animal welfare and animal health controls. I have consistently outlined my position on non-trade concerns in the Council of Agriculture Ministers, most recently on 26 September, by emphasising that the Commission must pursue recognition of these issues in the ongoing negotiations.

If the Doha mandate is to be fulfilled, non-trade concerns must be dealt in the final WTO agreement, and I will continue to insist that these matters are addressed as part of a successful conclusion of the round.

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