Alan Shatter
Question:56 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement on reports that the EU intend to slash duties on imported fish as part of the general agreement on tariffs and trade.
Written Answers. - Duties on Imported Fish.
Seán Barrett
Question:102 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement on reports that the EU intends to slash duties on imported fish as part of the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade.
I intend to answer oral Question No. 56 and written Question No. 100 together.
As the Deputy will be aware the Community is currently negotiating tariff reductions with world trading partners within the context of the GATT Uruguay Round. The Community is committed to achieving in this round a one-third reduction on average across all tariffs. The negotiating process involves the Community side in tabling and receiving tariff reduction offers.
In relation to possible reductions in fishery tariffs, the Commission did recently table certain proposals at the GATT negotiations. These proposals had been made without any consultation with member states.
This matter was raised at the Fisheries Council on 22 November last. I made it clear to the Commission that I had serious problems with both the procedures adopted by them and the actual content and level of the tariff cuts envisaged.
These concerns have since been reiterated in Brussels at meetings of the relevant Community groups dealing with the Uruguay Round. I would, at this juncture, like to assure the Deputy that every effort will continue to be made to keep any tariff concessions offered in the fisheries sector to a minimum.