Export Subsidies

House of Lords written question – answered at on 12 May 2004.

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Photo of Lord Hylton Lord Hylton Crossbench

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the decision of the World Trade Organisation on American export subsidies of cotton; and whether they will use the decision to speed up the ending of European Union agricultural export subsidies.

Photo of Lord Whitty Lord Whitty Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Food, Farming and Sustainable Energy)

The World Trade Organisation dispute panel established to investigate Brazilian complaints about United States' upland cotton subsidies submitted its interim report to the two parties at the end of April. The report is confidential to the two parties and will not be made more widely available until it is finalised in mid-June. In the mean time the Government are unable to comment on its findings.

The Doha development agenda commits all countries of the World Trade Organisation to negotiations aimed at substantial reductions in trade-distorting agricultural support, including negotiations with a view to phasing out all forms of export subsidy. Whatever the outcome of this dispute, this Government will continue to work with our international partners for a fair and equitable trading system for all agricultural products worldwide.

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