May 26, 2006

Australian prime minister's remarks raises the ire of the Irish

Ireland's livestock producers have launched a tirade against Australian Prime Minister John Howard after he urged the EU this week to implement cuts on agricultural subsidies in WTO negotiations.

Howard told the Dublin Chamber of Commerce that the US was far more generous in cutting farm subsidies than the EU, adding that the EU and Japan had a restrictive approach to the negotiations.

Howard's comments have drew a spirited attack from Irish Farmers' Association president Padraig Walshe.

Walshe accused Howard of duplicity, saying Howard's agenda was to destroy the family farm structure of European agriculture so as to open up the European food market for Australian producers.

To rub salt into the wound, Walshe also reminded Howard of the underhanded dealings AWB has had with the Saddam Hussein regime.

He then labeled Australia's prime minister as a lapdog for the US and a Trojan horse to the WTO talks.

While the EU has already reformed its agricultural policy and has offered to cut its import tariffs by an average of 46 percent, the US has never changed its farm policy and has no intention to do so, Walshe said.

Walshe added that doling out promises is easy for US president George Bush but it is really Congress who decides. He added that his US sources have told him the US would only sign an agreement if it benefits their own exports.

Australia also has a spotty record when it comes to WTO negotiations, Walshe said. The EU had agreed to fully phase out its export refunds by 2013, which would have required elimination of all other forms of export subsidies. Australia on the other hand, still operates State Trading Boards which contradicts the agreement, he noted.