EU to allay fears on farming

THE European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has moved to ease Irish fears over the treatment of agriculture in the world trade talks, now entering a decisive point ahead of a ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December.

Unease over the issue was expressed by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan; the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS); the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association leader Malcolm Thompson, and Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness.

Ms Coughlan, while accepting that the EU position on the various pillars of domestic support, market access and export subsidies was conditional, said she felt the Commission was now extremely close to the limit of its negotiating position.