World trade talks discuss agriculture

AGRICULTURE is on the agenda for two days of world trade review talks in the Indian capital New Delhi.

Trade negotiators from the United States, the European Union, Brazil and India began the talks yesterday in a bid to break the trade talks deadlock.

The United States is under pressure to make deeper cuts in farm subsidies, while the European Union has been pressed for greater reductions in tariffs on farm products.

Developing nations, led by India and Brazil, are being urged to open their markets more to farm and industrial products.

Ireland and the farm lobby here will be keeping a close eye on the progress of the talks after negotiations collapsed last July with farming a key sticking point.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan has warned that agriculture must not become a bargaining chip in the negotiations.

“In my view, the latest European Union position is at the limit of the negotiating mandate and no further concession should be made on agriculture,” she said.

Ms Coughlan told the AgriVision 2015 Stakeholders Forum in Dublin last month that she welcomed the recent resumption of negotiations and remains committed to a successful outcome.

“However, I will not accept that a new agreement should be concluded at the expense of EU and Irish agriculture,” she said.