Trade in raw materials under the Europe 2020 strategy

11.7.2012

Question for written answer E-006935/2012
to the Commission
Rule 117
Daniel Caspary (PPE)

In its resolution of 27 September 2011 on a New Trade Policy for Europe under the Europe 2020 strategy (2010/2152(INI)), the European Parliament called on the Commission to pursue a consistent, sustainable, comprehensive and cross-policy strategy concerning raw materials with the aim of preventing and eliminating unfair trade practices such as export restrictions, export taxes and so-called dual pricing mechanisms at multilateral and bilateral level.

However, in the same resolution Parliament also observed that under certain circumstances export restrictions may be seen as important for the support of development objectives, the protection of the environment or the sustainable exploitation of natural resources in poorer developing countries such as LDCs and SIDs and therefore called on the Commission to diversify its raw material suppliers and to conclude long-term bilateral agreements in this area with countries other than China.

It would be interesting to know what has been done since then.

1. Has the Commission taken measures to prevent and eliminate the abovementioned unfair trade practices at multilateral and bilateral level? If so, what measures? If not, why not?

2. Have any bilateral agreements concerning raw materials been concluded since the resolution was adopted, and if so, with which countries? If not, why not?

OJ C 219 E, 31/07/2013