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Peru: EU External Trade

Volume 503: debated on Wednesday 6 January 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions of the proposed free trade agreement between Peru and the EU govern the protection of the Amazonian rainforest; and if he will make a statement. (307823)

We believe that the EU-Andean multiparty trade agreement under negotiation with Peru will encourage EU investment in the economy and the further spread of EU standards in corporate and social responsibility. The Government regard trade agreements as important for economic growth and prosperity in developing countries, helping to reduce the poverty that is often the driver of conflict, displacement and human rights abuse.

The UK remains committed to environmental conservation and protecting the rights of indigenous communities. We have frequent discussions with Peru on these issues. During my visit to Peru in October 2009, I, as Minister for Latin America, met members of the multi-sector committee working to strengthen consultation mechanisms with indigenous groups on the development of the Peruvian Amazon, as well as with a cross-section of domestic and international organisations working on environmental issues in Peru. I offered the Government’s support to the Peruvian Government as they seek to strengthen Peru’s legal framework for protecting the Amazon. We are engaging with Peru’s Environment Minister on his commitment to reduce Peru’s deforestation to zero by 2019.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) his EU counterparts and (b) the European Commission on the effects on the indigenous Amazonians of the proposed free trade agreement between the EU and Peru. (307824)

Officials from the UK Representation to the EU in Brussels have been in continuous liaison with the European Commission throughout the negotiations—including on the UK’s commitment to environmental conservation and protecting the rights of indigenous communities across the Latin American region—via representation to the Article 133 Committee (now the Trade Policy Committee, since entry into force of the Lisbon treaty) and associated meetings in Brussels.