Walsh optimistic ahead of WTO negotiations

Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh has expressed his optimism about the prospect of an agreement at this week’s World Trade Organisation negotiations in Cancun, Mexico.

Mr Walsh has insisted that the Government will not accept any measures that go beyond the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy agreed by the European Union earlier this year.

Developing countries are expected to press for the removal of certain agricultural subsidies in the interests of free trade.

But Irish farming organisations have warned that any concessions which go beyond the agreed CAP reform could devastate the Irish agriculture sector.