Trade Minister: Mandelson has exceeded his mandate

IRELAND’S Trade Minister John McGuinness bluntly told EU Commissioner Peter Mandelson that he has conceded too much on agriculture in the World Trade Organisation negotiations, ahead of next week’s make-or-break talks.

Mr Mandelson told the specially convened meeting of ministers in Brussels yesterday — ahead of Monday’s meeting in Geneva — that there was a 50-50 chance of a deal. He conceded that European states were not getting enough in industrial goods access relative to what the EU is putting on the table for agriculture. He said he believed that developing countries were willing to give increased market access and cut tariffs on certain European services and goods, but there was no guarantee that it would be enough or that a deal could be concluded.

“Where Mandelson is now is well short of meeting our expectations. We need a balanced deal. The commissioner has conceded too much in agriculture,” Mr McGuinness said. “He has gone too far on the mandate he received.”