Trade deal bad for farmers

THE latest proposals from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are even worse for Irish agriculture than the previous ones, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.

However, Mr Martin would not commit the government to veto an agreement at this stage, saying it would weaken their hand in negotiations. The likelihood of concluding an agreement this year appears to be fading, with the majority of EU ministers coming out against the draft in Brussels yesterday having been briefed by EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

Mr Martin said Mr Mandelson put the best spin possible on it but admitted there was a lot still up in the air.