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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Cereal Imports.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

261 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the consequences for Ireland of the European Commission plan to impose quotas on grain imports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20422/02]

Negotiations are currently under way between the EU and its WTO trading partners aimed at resolving the problem of cheap imports of cereals from Black Sea ports, which threaten to disrupt EU markets. This situation arises from defects in the reference price system used to calculate import duties for cereals. The negotiations involve a proposal by the EU to impose quotas on cereal imports by the EU with fixed tariffs. Compensation will be offered to affected countries for this change in the import duty system. I will not be in a position to assess the specific implications of these proposals until negotiations are finalised, but it is my hope that they will provide an effective solution to the problem.

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