Peter Mandelson has launched an extraordinary attack on Gordon Brown, accusing the Chancellor of "going over the top" in his demands for reform of European farm subsidies. The European trade commissioner, who is representing the EU in world trade talks, said Mr Brown was "missing the point" in pressing for cuts to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in order to clinch a deal that would open up international markets to poorer countries. His attack came on the eve of Mr Brown's pre-Budget report. "I think he's going somewhat over the top in asking for that," Mr Mandelson told ITV1's Jonathan Dimbleby programme. "Obviously, as ever with Gordon, there is a kernel of truth in what he asks for. In essence he's right - the CAP needs reform - but he needs to say it in a better proportion than he seemed to be suggesting yesterday." Mr Mandelson said removing trade barriers could harm the people the Government is trying to help. "The Chancellor needs to ask himself who he thinks he's going to benefit," he said.
The European trade commissioner, who is representing the EU in world trade talks, said Mr Brown was "missing the point" in pressing for cuts to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in order to clinch a deal that would open up international markets to poorer countries. His attack came on the eve of Mr Brown's pre-Budget report.
"I think he's going somewhat over the top in asking for that," Mr Mandelson told ITV1's Jonathan Dimbleby programme. "Obviously, as ever with Gordon, there is a kernel of truth in what he asks for. In essence he's right - the CAP needs reform - but he needs to say it in a better proportion than he seemed to be suggesting yesterday."
Mr Mandelson said removing trade barriers could harm the people the Government is trying to help. "The Chancellor needs to ask himself who he thinks he's going to benefit," he said.
LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - The European Union will make no further concessions on lowering agricultural tariff barriers in world trade talks without significant offers from other countries, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said on Sunday. Mandelson also accused British finance minister Gordon Brown of "going over the top" in his call this weekend for a more far-reaching reform of Europe's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to help broker a breakthrough in World Trade Organisation talks. Ministers from 148 countries meet at a Hong Kong WTO conference this month but splits, particularly over agriculture, have dashed hopes of a deal on reforming world trade. Asked if the EU's offer on cutting tariffs on farm goods was a bottom line, Mandelson said: "Something would have to change in this round and other people would have to put some serious offers on the table in other sectors of the negotiations for us to move even further than we are proposing on agriculture." "There won't be a final deal in Hong Kong nor will there be the two-thirds of a deal that we originally wanted in Hong Kong," he told ITV's Jonathan Dimbleby programme.
Mandelson also accused British finance minister Gordon Brown of "going over the top" in his call this weekend for a more far-reaching reform of Europe's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to help broker a breakthrough in World Trade Organisation talks.
Ministers from 148 countries meet at a Hong Kong WTO conference this month but splits, particularly over agriculture, have dashed hopes of a deal on reforming world trade.
Asked if the EU's offer on cutting tariffs on farm goods was a bottom line, Mandelson said: "Something would have to change in this round and other people would have to put some serious offers on the table in other sectors of the negotiations for us to move even further than we are proposing on agriculture."
"There won't be a final deal in Hong Kong nor will there be the two-thirds of a deal that we originally wanted in Hong Kong," he told ITV's Jonathan Dimbleby programme.
It's easy to say the entire system of aids and tariffs should just be dismantled, when the questions involved are complex and reform calls for carefully-considered measures over a reasonable length of time. Not only because simple abolition of the CAP would cause disruption in a number of EU countries, but because it would not be so very favourable to the poorer developing countries, as Mandelson points out. Simple, brutal suppression of agri-tariffs will only be to the advantage of agri-exporters like Brazil.
In fact, Brown's outburst is a bit of a kick in the shins for Mandelson. What chums these fellows all are!
