Coughlan criticises new EC position

REPORTED comments by Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson that the European Union is willing to give more ground over farm tariff cuts in the resuming world trade talks were sharply criticised by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan in Brussels yesterday.

Mr Mandelson, speaking on the fringes of the annual World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland, at the weekend, was quoted as saying the EU is ready to add substantially to the 39% of cuts in agricultural tariffs that it offered a year ago.

“We are ready to add more than 10% and get within close reach of the average farm tariff cut demanded by G20 developing countries.