Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 1

Written Answers. - Trade Policy.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

194 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in advance of the World Trade Organisation meeting in Cancún in September 2003, she has considered the proposals brought forward by the Trade Justice Ireland Campaign; her views on these proposals; the Government priorities for this meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14858/03]

Gay Mitchell

Question:

196 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in advance of the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Cancún in September 2003, she has considered the agenda for trade justice prepared by ICTU and DOCHAS; the Government's priorities for this meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14884/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. M. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 196 together.

The current round of multilateral trade negotiations, the Doha development agenda, was launched at the WTO Ministerial meeting in Qatar in November 2001. It was agreed then that the negotiations would be concluded by the end of 2004 and that progress would be reviewed at the next WTO Ministerial meeting, which is scheduled for Cancún, Mexico, in September of this year.

The negotiations have been ongoing in Geneva for the past one and a half years. Progress has been slow and it has not been possible so far to meet a number of the deadlines set for the various phases of the negotiations. It is important, therefore, that the upcoming Cancún Ministerial meeting provides a political impetus as the time left for reaching agreement is relatively short.

Ireland has participated in the negotiations as a member of the EU. Comprehensive co-ordination is necessary in order to fully reflect Irish interests in all EU proposals. My Department consults on an ongoing basis with other Departments, Government agencies, sectoral organisations, businesses and NGOs. In this regard, I met with representatives of the Trade Matters Group of NGO's on 9 April for a discussion on their trade justice submission on the Doha negotiations. I welcomed the very useful input to the consideration of these WTO issues during the lead in to Cancún. I undertook to have matters raised in the discussion taken into consideration. In addition, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business will be discussing these issues at its meeting of 11 June, at which my Department will be represented.

The Irish priority has been, and is, to see the process of trade liberalisation continue in a fair and balanced way and the WTO continue to provide a stable and consistent framework for the regulation of world trade. Central to our approach, and that of the EU, is a commitment to respond positively in the negotiations to the concerns of the developing countries. This is an essential part of the Doha agenda and it is very clear that we will not have any agreement unless we can show clearly to the developing countries that they are being treated fairly.

All of the various proposals put forward by the EU so far have reflected this and we support the continuation of this approach. This is important in terms of access to world markets for the exports of developing countries, special treatment for developing countries in the implementation of trade regulations and support for their full participation in the operation of the WTO.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

195 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the trade agreement with Chile; if she will report on the workings of the agreement since 1 January 2003; the value of trade between Ireland and Chile; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14872/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. M. Ahern)

Following more than two years of negotiations, a comprehensive association agreement between the EU, the member states and Chile was formally signed on 18 November 2002. The agreement comprises three main chapters: political dialogue, co-operation and trade. Respect for democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law are essential elements of the agreement. The promotion of sustainable economic and social development and the equitable distribution of the benefits of the association agreement are guiding principles for its implementation.

The EU-Chile association agreement is a mixed competencies agreement. The bulk of the trade chapter, the institutional framework and the trade-related co-operation provisions of the agreement have been provisionally applied since 1 February 2003. The remaining provisions will enter into force once all of the 15 member states of the EU have ratified the agreement in accordance with their domestic procedures. The motion for Ireland to ratify the agreement was referred to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, 27 May and the committee will report back by 17 June.

The elements of the agreement dealing with trade cover all aspects of trade relations. The FTA with Chile goes well beyond the respective WTO commitments, which has a high degree of trade liberalisation, which is underpinned by a set of strong and transparent rules. Trade with Chile in the year 2002 amounted to €73.781 including €36.645 in exports and €37.136 in imports.

Question No. 196 answered with Question No. 194.