Farmers clash with Coughlan over ‘disastrous’ deal

THE powerful farm lobby clashed yesterday with Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan over the “disastrous” outcome of the world trade talks in Hong Kong.

Farm leaders claimed the agreement, which includes the scrapping of export subsidies by 2013, represented a black day for the sector.

Ms Coughlan insisted, however, that the agreement between the 148 World Trade Organisation (WTO) countries was the best possible outcome for Ireland.