EU gets worked up as subsidies face cuts

SOME EU states including Ireland are getting seriously worked up that Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has lost the plot over subsidies.

The EU spends about three times as much on farm support as the US but the bottom line in all of this is the West has protected its trade interests across the entire spectrum at the expense of poorer countries.

It is understood Mr Mandelson said the EU would cut by 70 % those domestic subsidies believed to distort trade.