WRITTEN QUESTION E-1229/00 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Imports of orange juice from Mexico.
Date: 2000-04-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Mexico, agricultural product, citrus fruit, countervailing charge, development aid, fruit juice, preferential agreement, restriction on competition

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.