The European Union is likely to seek exemptions for fruit and vegetables from cuts in farm tariffs under the current Doha round of trade talks, Peter Mandelson, trade commissioner has said.
According to reports in the FT, Mandelson’s comments form the opening bids in what trade negotiators say is likely to be a long and fraught process of deciding which items, known as “sensitive products”, will receive special treatment.
“It's more likely than not that fruit and vegetables will be among the sensitive products that we include,” Mr Mandelson said.
Negotiations will begin in Geneva next week as talks on agricultural trade resume following the minor breakthrough at the recent meeting of trade ministers in Paris.
