Intense talks to find WTO accord
Minister for Agriculture and Food Joe Walsh said yesterday that agreement on the terms of the new round is unlikely to be reached until well into 2005 and Ireland was supportive of a well-balanced, comprehensive agreement.
The minister is keeping in very close touch with the negotiations in Geneva and elsewhere on the new WTO round and he remained determined to protect the interests of the Irish agri-food sector and rural communities as the negotiations progress.
Mr Walsh said the EU had prepared well for the WTO negotiations through the CAP reforms of Agenda 2000 and the Mid-term Review and an offer to substantially cut the level of protection and support for EU agriculture had been submitted to the WTO. The current round of talks is taking place under the Doha Development Agenda, with the emphasis on the needs of developing countries, and the EU has also proposed generous terms for developing countries.
