Malaysia slams EU over free trade talks

Malaysia’s outspoken trade minister today slammed the European Union for stalling progress in global free trade talks and said next week’s WTO summit in Hong Kong will likely be just a shopping trip for delegates.

Rafidah Aziz urged the EU to concede to widespread demands for it to make deeper cuts to farm tariffs beyond the average 46% it offered in October so that the 148-member World Trade Organisation could strike a trade deal.