In the meantime, we have heard that the Commission is coming under extremely heavy pressure from influential lobby firms arguing in favour of unrestricted imports of Chinese strawberries to the EU, which are pushing for the anti-dumping duties to be withdrawn.

Can the Council say when a decision will be taken on the imposition of temporary anti-dumping duties on imports of strawberries from China?

Mediterranean countries The Council adopted Regulations: - concerning the tariff quota for fresh strawberries originating in the Occupied Territories (1 200 t from 1 November 1992 to 31 March 1993 at zero duty) and laying down the procedure applicable to certain agricultural products subject to reference quantities originating in the said territories (1992-1993) (tomatoes, aubergines, sweet peppers, courgettes, fresh oranges); - opening and providing for the administration of a Community tariff quota for malt beer originating in Malta (for 1993 - 5 000 t duty free).

Whereas the customs duties applicable within the limit of these quotas are set at 4,4 % with a minimum duty of ECU 0,8 per 100 kilograms net weight for tomatoes and at 5,6 % for strawberries; whereas these Community tariff quotas should be opened for the abovementioned periods;

For the least developed countries, the Commission, which aims to provide them with access on terms similar to those for the ACP States, proposes to zero-rate pineapples, dried figs, dried grapes and frozen strawberries.

However, the Commission repeats the proposal made in 1988: - to reduce to 34% the GSP duty rate on cigars; and - to include in the scheme dried figs, raisins and frozen strawberries from the least developed countries.