WRITTEN QUESTION E-1229/00 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Imports of orange juice from Mexico.
C 53 E/108 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 The main aim of the Commission remains the proper implementation and application by the United States of the TRIPs Agreement bearing in mind that Section 211 can potentially affect all European companies dealing with Cuba. It should be in the interest of the Community and its Member States to ensure that the provisions of the TRIPs Agreement are respected by all WTO members. (1) OJ C 374 E, 28. 12. 2000, p. 145. (2) OJ C 46 E, 13. 2. 2001, p. 50. (3) See page 32. (2001/C 53 E/138) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1229/00 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission (14 April 2000) Subject: Imports of orange juice from Mexico The Commission recently agreed a large quota of imports on preferential terms, including 31 000 tonnes of Mexican orange juice, 750 tonnes of cut flowers, 400 tonnes of exotic flowers, 30 000 tonnes of honey and 1 000 tonnes of melons. This absurd arrangement, coming after the Euro-Mediterranean agreement, is yet another hard blow for the agricultural industry in southern Italy, and more especially Sicily, where the crisis in the citrus sector has dismayed tens of thousands of people working in that sector. In view of the foregoing: 1. On what basis can unfair competition be regarded as compatible with cooperation with less developed countries? 2. Does the Commission consider that it should suspend, in the light of the changed market conditions, the devastating effects of the bilateral agricultural agreements and adopt corresponding compensatory measures, as laid down in those very agreements with third countries? Answer given by My Fischler on behalf of the Commission (29 May 2000) The Commission believes that the recently concluded trade agreement with Mexico is one in which the overall outcome for agriculture is well balanced. Indeed, it could be said that in the fruit and vegetables and cut flowers sectors the outcome is in favour of the Community. For many products in these sectors, Mexico will grant immediate liberalisation on imports from the Community. A part from a limited number of quotas which it will grant to Mexico, the Community will keep most of these products on a list of products that are not to be liberalised at this stage. The Commission also believes that the quotas granted will not have an adverse impact on either the less developed countries or European producers. The question of compensation to European producers therefore does not arise. It is also worth noting that in a declaration made in the context of the agreement, the Commission agreed to monitor imports on the Community market under the orange juice quota referred to by the Honourable Member. Furthermore, provision is made under Article 15 of the agreement for certain safeguard procedures in the event of particular difficulties as a result of imports to either the Community or Mexican markets. The Commission negotiators also ensured that, under the agreement, the Community entry price system will continue to operate. As the Honourable Member will appreciate, this is particularly important in the fruit and vegetables sector. Finally, the excellent outcome on rules of origin for agriculture products under the agreement, where Mexico accepted the Community rules of origin for many products, should be noted. This, for example, means that in the case of the orange juice quota referred to, such juice must come from oranges grown in Mexico