EU Offers 60% Cut In Farm Tariffs
22 July 2008 As part of a new global trade agreement, on Monday, July 21, 2008 in Geneva, the EU said it would slash farm tariffs by 60% — the deepest cut ever offered, said EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson at the World Trade Organization. The offer, intended to kick-start an important week of discussion on a new global commerce pact, depends on emerging economies such as Brazil, India and China responding with improved offers on industrial tariffs, Mandelson said.
"We’ve decided to help the negotiations this week get off to a strong start by raising the average cut in our agricultural tariff," he said. "If we don’t all make the same sort of effort … then we’re not going to get through to the end as we need to do this week.”
The EU’s farm tariffs have been an issue of dispute, especially with countries such as France and Ireland skeptical of agricultural liberalization. The US, Brazil, and other powerful agricultural exporters have recently focused on securing better conditions for trade in beef, dairy, sugar, and other products sensitive for European farmers, reports the associated press.
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