WTO talks: Irish farmers disappointed with collapse

Irish farmers have reacted with disappointment to the collapse of World Trade Organisation negotiations in Cancun, Mexico, overnight.

The talks collapsed after African nations walked out in protest at demands from the European Union that issues such as foreign investment be included in the WTO’s mandate.

Speaking from Cancun, ICMSA president Pat O’Rourke said: "The reason for it was that there were unreasonable expectations by some members who wanted to gain an enormous amount and give nothing.

"Contrary to what is being suggested, it was not agriculture that caused these talks to collapse. It was other issues in relation to investment."

Irish Farmers Association president John Dillon said that without agreement at the WTO, the EU’s proposed reform of the Common Agriculture Policy would be "hanging on a string".