Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:165 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the limits that are placed on Ireland with regard to imports into Ireland. [30839/08]
View answerWednesday, 24 September 2008
Questions (76)
Written answers
Ireland has an open policy when it comes to international trade. My Department encourages free trade and applies limited restrictions or limitations on imports. Any limitations that are applied are implemented to enable Ireland meet its EU or other international obligations, such as may be agreed by the United Nations. Under the EU Treaty, the Common Commercial Policy (which regulates the EU international trade policy) generally gives the Commission authority to negotiate international trade arrangements with countries outside the Union, based on a mandate from Member States.
Import limitations will normally take the form of either import quotas, sanctions / prohibitions, or licences through which the level of imports of specific goods is monitored. Import limitations may also be applied for certain products such as agricultural produce, firearms/weapons, fireworks/explosives etc., the arrangements for which would be under the remit of other Departments such as the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The Licensing Unit of my Department issues import licences in conjunction with the EU Commission. The following are the principle areas affecting trade in which import limitations/restrictions apply together with details of the applicable EU regulations under which the limitations are applied.
Textiles:
EU trade policy restricts the importation of certain textiles and textile garments originating in specified third countries into the EU. These goods may not be imported into the EU without an import licence. The following are the main countries involved.
China and Uzbekistan:
The importation into the EU of certain categories of textiles originating in the Peoples Republic of China and Uzbekistan are subject to double surveillance measures and require an import licence under Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1217/2007 which amended Annex III to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3030/93 on common rules for imports of certain textile products from third countries.
Belarus and North Korea:
The importation into the EU of certain categories textiles originating in Belarus and North Korea is subject to quantitative quotas under Commission Regulations (EC) No. 1402/2007 and 517/94 and require an import licence.
Iron & Steel Products:
The importation into the EU of certain iron and steel products originating in countries outside the EU are subject to either quantitative restrictions, double surveillance or prior surveillance measures (as contained in Commission Decisions No. 2136/97/ECSC, 1401/97/ECSC and 2744/1999/ECSC) and require an import licence.
Potassium Chloride:
The importation into the EU of potassium chloride originating in Belarus is subject to anti-dumping measures and requires an import licence under Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1050/2006.
Sanctions:
Trade sanctions are increasingly used by the international Community as a means of exerting influence on various issues of international concern. Ireland fully subscribes to its international obligations in this regard. My Department plays a central role in co-ordinating the implementation of the various United Nations and EC measures which have been adopted concerning trade. The impact of these measures on trade is, however insignificant, in the context of our well established international trading alliances. Where financial sanctions are in place, these are managed by the Department of Finance.
Question No. 166 answered with Question No. 154.