Coughlan to warn Mandelson against further concessions in WTO

THE EU should be prepared to break off negotiations in the WTO, if other countries are not willing to concede anything, said Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan.

This morning she meets EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson in Brussels and will warn him that he should not make any further concessions when he meets WTO partners at an informal meeting in Davos this weekend.

In Berlin yesterday Mr Mandelson hinted the EU was willing to make a fresh offer on farm trade access if other countries opened up their markets.