Mark Lazarowicz: Edinburgh North & Leith

•

•

•

•

•

	West and Central African countries: Support for cotton sectors
	Mr. Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh, North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op): What steps he is taking to support the development of the cotton sector in west and central African countries. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Gareth Thomas): Subsidies paid to European Union and United States cotton producers are one of the clearest examples of how Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development farm subsidies harm the developing world. In recent months, those subsidies have decreased world cotton prices by at least 20 per cent. As a result, many of the poorest west and central African producers struggle to make a living. We will continue to work within the international community, the European Commission and other EU member states to ensure that meaningful trade reform, particularly reform of the EU cotton subsidy regime, remains an essential part of the response to the problems faced by cotton producers in Africa. Mr. Lazarowicz : I thank my hon. Friend for that positive response. Will his Department use its voice in the donor community to ensure that there is no suggestion of a linkage between technical assistance and development aid for cotton producing countries and their being required to drop their opposition to the subsidies from the US and EU that cause many of the problems of over-production and dumping? As it has been suggested that there should be some such linkage, can he give an assurance that the Government will oppose that? Mr. Thomas: I am happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. For a demonstration of our support for the west and central African producers, we need look no further than the fact that when they brought their case to the World Trade Organisation meeting in Cancun last year, they did so with the support of a number of donors, including some euro50,000 from the Government.

	Back to Speeches
	30th March 2004, Column 1557