WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1141/96 by Iñigo MÉNDEZ DE VIGO to the Commission. Trade relations with the United States
Date: 1996-05-13
Institutions: European Parliament, MENDEZ DE VIGO
Subjects: United States, export, market research, non-tariff barrier, public contract, tariff barrier, trade agreement, trade restriction













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91996E1141

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1141/96 by Iñigo MÉNDEZ DE VIGO to the Commission. Trade relations with the United States  


Official Journal C 280 , 25/09/1996 P. 0119 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1141/96 by Iñigo Méndez de Vigo (PPE) to the Commission (13 May 1996)Subject: Trade relations with the United StatesDespite the fact that tariffs on trade with the United States are being cut in compliance with the agreements reached during the Uruguay Round, European firms attempting to sell their products or invest on the American market are still encountering barriers. Provisions of a protectionist nature prevent European firms from building airport terminals, selling vehicle fleets or carrying out other forms of public contract. Textile and clothing manufacturers are also experiencing problems in exporting their products.The Commission has given details of the agreement between the EU and the United States to study the advantages and disadvantage of reducing or abolishing the trade barriers still remaining between them.Will the Commission say whether a timetable has been set for this study? Have consultations been held with European firms to ascertain their views and determine what barriers to trade with the United States they encounter?Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (29 May 1996)The study to which the Honourable Member refers is part of the joint European Union and the United States action plan adopted at the European Union and the United States summit in Madrid between the European Union and the United States on 3 December 1995. The study is being carried out jointly by the Commission and the United States government in the context of the creation of the 'new transatlantic marketplace'. It examines ways of facilitating trade in goods and services and further reducing or eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers.The two sides have agreed that they will report on progress and make recommendations for action to the next three summits. In the second half of 1997, they will conduct a review of the study to evaluate its results and make decisions about its continuation.As part of the creation of the 'new transatlantic marketplace', the joint study takes into consideration the recommendations of the Transatlantic business dialogue (TABD). The 'overall conclusions' of the TABD conference in Seville on 10-11 November 1995, as well as the results of the follow-up to this conference, are an important input into the joint study, in particular with regard to the identification of existing barriers to trade with the United States. Exporting European companies have also contributed, directly or through Member States, to the most recent annual report by the Commission on United States barriers to trade and investment. This report, in turn, is an important source for the joint study.