IFA has beef with visiting PM as Howard belittles EU offer at WTO

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister John Howard came under fire from the Irish Farmers Association yesterday for claiming that the European Union offer on agriculture in the world trade talks was very restrictive, while the United States offer was generous.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said the statement by Mr Howard, who was on an official visit to Dublin, is not borne out by the facts.

Accusing the Australian leader of duplicity, Mr Walshe said Mr Howard’s real agenda was to destroy the family farm structure of European agriculture and to have the European food market supplied by Australian ranchers.

“The fundamental difference between the EU and US approach to the WTO negotiations is that the EU has already reformed its agricultural policy and has offered to cut its import tariffs by an average of 46% on the back of that decision.

“The US on the other hand has not changed its internal farm policy one iota, and the signals coming from the US Congress is that it has no intention of seriously reforming its Farm Bill when it come up for review next year,” he added.

Ireland East Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness, speaking in Brussels, said she was alarmed at Mr Howard’s comments that the EU should accept faster and deeper cuts in agricultural subsidies at the world trade talks.

“Contrary to what the prime minister has said, the EU has already given a generous concession. The concession was given so early in the negotiations, it was unwise tactically.”

Ms McGuinness said it unfortunately appears that the EU is allowing itself to be pressurised unduly to offer significantly bigger cuts in farm tariffs in the talks.

“This could have a very detrimental effect on food production in Ireland,” she said.