Export refunds plan angers leaders

THE offer by the European Union to end agricultural export refunds as long as nations, including the United States, promise to cut farm grants and lower import tariffs, has been given a hostile reception by Irish agri-leaders.

But Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh welcomed the move to kick-start the world trade talks which broke down in Cancun last September and have since been in abeyance. Rejecting suggestions that the goalposts were being moved, he said: “What we have here is a move towards facilitating a trade agreement. It is conditional on parallel moves from the other side. In my view, it remains within the Doha mandate.”

Donal Cashman, president of ICOS, the co-ops umbrella body, claimed that the offer to the WTO countries refers to potentially very damaging concessions in the EU position. “Any reference to the elimination of export refunds is unacceptable and is a potential ‘sell out’ on Irish and EU agriculture. If refunds are eliminated it is highly likely to force another reform of the milk sector including further price cuts.