France attacks Mandelson's free trade push

By Alex Singleton | 19 October 2005

Representatives from the EU, US, Brazil, India and Australia met today in to discuss the future of the Doha round of trade talks. Unfortunately, France has been unhelpful in its attitude towards the round's progress. EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson has been offering to cut EU farm tariffs and subsidies, but according to Alan Beattie of the Financial Times:

The French agriculture ministry said on Wednesday it could not accept that Mr Mandelson "in any way whatsoever raise" farm trade in talks this week. It claimed that he had exceeded his negotiating mandate.

European officials have complained that some developing countries, led by Brazil, have refused to entertain serious discussion of trade in goods and services before getting a satisfactory deal on agriculture.

"If this situation continues, it will make it impossible for the EU to move further on agriculture because it will be impossible to persuade a sufficient number of our member states to do so," [said Mr Mandelson]