Vol. 537 No. 2
150 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will work for the eight objectives set out by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 in relation to the World Trade Organisation. [15567/01]
Negotiations on agriculture are currently taking place at the WTO under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture which requires that account be taken, inter alia, of the need for special and differential treatment of developing countries and the objective to create a fair and market orientated agricultural trading system. The current phase of the negotiations is proceeding on the basis of a work plan agreed at the WTO in March 2001. The plan acknowledges special and differential treatment as an integral part of all elements of the negotiations. Ireland participates in the negotiations as a member of the EU and the Commission is conducting the negotiations on behalf of member states in accordance with a mandate adopted by the Council of Ministers in September 1999. The Council agreed, inter alia, that any new round should provide benefits to developing countries and assist the integration of these countries, particularly the least developed, into the international trade system. The Council has also agreed an EU comprehensive negotiating proposal that addresses the main concerns of developing countries in relation to agricultural trade issues.
The EU has already decided to give duty-free access to all products exported, except arms, from the 48 poorest developing countries. The TRIPS agreement is a general agreement applying to all economic sectors and is not therefore a part of the current agricultural negotiations. In the event that negotiations take place on the TRIPS agreement, the food production needs of developing countries will be borne in mind in the formation of the EU negotiating position. In relation to capacity building, I am aware that the FAO is providing technical support for developing countries. This reflects a recognition in the international community of the importance of trade issues to food security, as underlined in the conclusions of the World Food Summit in 1996. The Government fully shares that perspective and participates actively in the follow-up process to the WFS, which provides a mechanism for international consultation on food security.
Ireland has signed an agreement establishing an advisory centre for developing countries on WTO law. Ireland was one of six developed countries which participated in the development of the project, together with 15 developing countries, and has committed itself to contributing $1 million to the endowment fund for the centre with annual contributions of $250,000 for a minimum of five years. The centre will provide advice and assistance for developing countries, in particular the least developed, in defending their trade rights. Finally, the WTO provides for participation by civil society. At national level arrangements are in place for consultation with civil society and these arrangements will continue in the future.
