EU farming on ‘special offer’

IN THE horse trading in Geneva, EU farmers were sold out again within a few hours.

In the run-up to the world trade talks by 35 key negotiating countries, French President Nicolas Sarkozy had accused EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson of overstepping his mandate and offering too much on agriculture subsidies.

When new negotiating drafts on trade in agricultural and industrial goods were presented by WTO mediators at the end of May, only Sweden and Britain sided with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.