WTO deal ‘protects’ Irish farmers

A DRAFT deal reached over the weekend in Geneva on a framework for reviving stalled world trade talks was yesterday described by Minister Joe Walsh as most satisfactory for Irish agriculture.

He said it copperfastens the benefits to Irish farmers of the recently negotiated reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and his decision to fully decouple direct payments. It also protects the essential interests of Irish agriculture in the EU domestic market.

But the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association president Pat O’Rourke warned that the outline agreement which includes a move to eliminate export refunds was a potential economic disaster for Ireland.