asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline the names and broad details of any and all international trading treaties or agreements, at present signed or agreed to by most EC countries, in respect of which Ireland is still not a co-signatory; and his intentions in this respect.
Written Answers. - International Trading Agreements.
27.
International trading treaties or agreements are a function of the common commercial policy of the European Community. The formulation of this policy is a competence conferred on the European Commission and executed by them. All member states are, therefore, bound by any international trading treaty or agreement, to which the Community has acceded. Accordingly, it is not possible for some member states not to accede to a trading treaty or agreement. Member states are not co-signatories in every case; in some cases signature on behalf of the Community as a whole is deemed sufficient.
It is possible that the Deputy may be referring to the Co-ordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM). This arrangement is signed by those EC countries who are also members of NATO. It includes the member countries of NATO, except Iceland and Japan. Its purpose is to control exports of strategic materials and technology which are of military application or could be adapted to such use. Because of its militarily neutral status Ireland is not a member of COCOM.