IFA warns Mandelson over mandate

IFA president Padraig Walshe has warned Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson that any breach of the EU negotiating mandate during the summer or autumn would be highly irresponsible.

Mr Walshe said he told Mr Mandelson to tear up his plans for flying around the world, bargaining away European agriculture. His race was run in these negotiations until he had concrete offers from the United States and other trading blocs. “My information from Washington is that the US has no intention of allowing the EU or WTO interfere with the writing of its new farm programmes in 2007,” he said.