Coughlan to review world trade talks

THE French and Irish agriculture ministers, Michel Barnier and Mary Coughlan, will meet in Paris today to discuss the latest developments in the world trade talks.

Ms Coughlan, who arranged the meeting, said she has serious concerns about the content of a recent paper issued by the chairman of the World Trade Organisation negotiating committee on agriculture, Crawford Falconer. The paper is the most recent effort at brokering an agreement on the current round of WTO negotiations.

Ms Coughlan said the Falconer paper lacked balance and took little account of the position of the EU. “I have difficulty with the proposed commitments, timing and balance in the document. I am determined that European and Irish agriculture must not be sacrificed in the effort to get a WTO deal now.

“Any WTO deal must not undermine the CAP reforms already undertaken, in good faith, by the EU in preparation for the WTO round,” she said. “I and my officials have been engaged in an intensive round of consultations with other member states and the EU Commission in relation to the WTO, in advance of the release of this paper.

“I will be intensifying these contacts in the coming weeks and I have also asked the Slovenian presidency to make this a main item for discussion at the next agriculture Council of Ministers meeting on February 18,” she said.