Michael P. Kitt
Question:40 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the role of the Government in ensuring a favourable trade agreement with Angola. [15040/96]
Written Answers. - Angolan Trade Agreement.
Angola is one of 70 countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific which are party to the Fourth ACP-EU (Lomé) Convention. As such it enjoys very beneficial trade terms with the European Union: under the Convention 97 per cent of exports from these countries enter the EU without duty or tariff restrictions.
An agreement amending the Fourth Lomé convention was signed in Mauritius on 4 November 1995. This made some amendments to the trade provisions of the convention. These include the expansion of the list of products which receive preferential access, and the relaxation of the rules of origin which relate to the use of non-ACP produced raw materials in the manufacture of goods in ACP countries which can then be exported to the EU under the preferential terms. The amended convention also pays greater attention to trade development.
Ireland played a full and active part in the negotiation of the revised convention, and fully supports the amendments made.
The Fourth Lomé Convention will expire early in the year 2000. Ireland will play an active and constructive part in the discussions on a successor arrangement, in recognition of the importance attached by the Government to the ACP-EU partnership and the need to ensure the effectiveness of the full range of the Community's development co-operation instruments, including co-operation on trade matters.
Ireland has no bilateral trade agreements with Angola.