Poor worst hit by sugar deal

LAST week’s effective demolition of the Irish sugar industry was a frightening reminder for farmers of the power of the World Trade Organisation.

When Australia, Brazil and Thailand complained to the WTO about the EU sugar regime, the writing was on the wall for beet growers here.

The WTO ruled aspects of the EU regime illegal earlier this year; after that, it was only a matter of working out the details of a new EU policy.