Call to end EU bashing over WTO trade talks

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has indicated that attempts to revive world trade talks are going nowhere until all partners demonstrate some flexibility. He was reacting to the “bashing of Europe” by the Australian government.

The row hardened the ill-feeling which has set in since the WTO talks collapsed, with EU representatives apparently steadfastly waiting for the US to show flexibility before considering re-starting talks.

Mandelson could take part in a major trade meeting in Australia in mid-September, but his spokesman, Irishman Peter Power, said: “Our position is it is extremely difficult from a diary point of view, and we just wonder about the value of meetings in the absence of any clear indication from certain parties to these talks that they’re prepared to move on the position they had in Geneva,” he said, alluding to the US.