Mixed reaction to collapse of trade talks

THE collapse of world trade talks in Geneva has been bitterly condemned by EU trade negotiator Peter Mandelson as “a burial”.

Nine days of virtually non-stop talks involving trade ministers and hundreds of trade experts from more than 30 countries broke down over the refusal of China and India to open up agriculture markets to US imports as much as Washington had wanted.

The collapse was welcomed by Irish farmers with IFA leader Pádraig Walshe saying they were “relieved”.