Brussels, 22/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - France and Ireland have asked the General Affairs Council to debate the EU's draft position on Monday on the agricultural chapter of the WTO negotiating round (that the Commission presented last month). These countries, which dispute certain aspects of the text, made this request at the meeting, on Tuesday, of the experts of the Fifteen responsible for trade issues (133 Committee).
France considers that some of its concerns were not taken into account: - regarding export competition. It is against any commitment being made to abolishing export refunds for certain products, notably cereals; - concerning market access, the French delegation is not in favour of the formula of minimum tariff reduction (-15%) on imports. Furthermore, France won on one point: the reference to the American "deficiency payments" (aid or loans to enable domestic prices to follow world prices). Ireland placed special emphasis on reference being made to the supply management aspects of the "blue box". In other words, like other Member States it would like the management role of the production of aid contained in this "box" to be preserved.
In compliance with Article 133 of the Treaty, the qualified majority rule applies: in theory, however, the 133 Committee may approve a Commission document, but it generally prefers to seek a consensus.