To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she has taken to encourage elimination of tariffs on imports from the least developed countries. [32881]

Under the UK Presidency the EU has concluded discussions on how to implement its commitment to offer Lome equivalent terms to the nine non-Africa, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) Least Developed Countries (LDC's). The new terms will apply retrospectively from 1 January 1998. The EU has agreed to look at ways to further improve and extend preferential access to all the LDCs. The UK sees this as a priority and will continue to press within the EU and multilaterally for bound duty free access for all LDC products.