PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
TARIFF DISPUTE BETWEEN THE EU AND THE USA (17 March 1999)

That this House condemns the ongoing tariff war between the European Union and the United States of America arising from the so-called banana war; deplores the USA's unilateral introduction of 100 per cent. punitive tariffs on a range of goods including knitted cashmere goods, candles and other goods; recognises the damage being caused now by the USA's action to United Kingdom and other European Union businesses which may lead to thousands of job losses; points out to the USA that these businesses have nothing to do with the disputed issues between the two trading blocks; calls for the United States Government to abandon unilateral action and abide by the decisions of the World Trade Organisation; urges both sides to seek a settlement to the banana war which is fair to all parties; and calls on the British Government to step up its diplomatic efforts to ensure the USA and the EU resolve the dispute before any jobs are lost in the United Kingdom.

Sponsored by:
Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope (Liberal Democrat)