Mandelson seeks unity after new Sarkozy criticism
PARIS (Reuters) - European Union trade chief PeterMandelson said on Tuesday he was being undermined by repeatedcriticism from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and urged EUstates to unite behind his push for a world trade deal.
"It poses a great problem because as the negotiator of theEU, I need the unity of the member states behind me," Mandelsontold reporters in Paris on the day France took over therotating presidency of the 27-country bloc.
Sarkozy said on Monday he would not accept an agreementunder the WTO's Doha round of negotiations if it meant Europeanagriculture would be sacrificed in the name of freer trade.
The talks were launched nearly seven years ago to try toease poverty and boost the global economy.
The French president, speaking on French television,accused Mandelson and WTO chief Pascal Lamy of trying to forcea deal on the EU that would be bad for its farming sector.
Mandelson rejected the charge and said the EU needed tospeak with one voice. "You know in all negotiations in trade asin all other areas, our unity is our strength," he said.
"We want an outcome that is balanced, which is fair, foreveryone including Europe. That is what I'm negotiating for butif I'm undermined, then my ability to reach that outcome willbe weakened and I'm sorry for that."
"Yes, I am being undermined and Europe's negotiatingposition in the world trade talks is being weakened. And Iregret that," Mandelson later told BBC television.
"It's very disappointing because the mandate which I amnegotiating in the trade talks -- and trying on behalf ofEurope to bring them to a successful conclusion -- has beenagreed on by all the member states," he said.
"I regret that Mr Sarkozy's intervention, before and againlast night, will make it harder for me."
France has long opposed the kind of farm import tariff cutsthat Mandelson is offering in return for better access forEuropean exporters of cars, chemicals and other manufacturedgoods in developing countries such as Brazil and India.
NO DINNER DATE
Speaking to reporters later on Tuesday, Sarkozy tookanother swipe at Mandelson, saying he regretted the Britishcommissioner would not be attending a dinner in his palacealong with other EU officials to mark the start of the FrenchEU presidency.
"I would have been delighted to receive Mr Mandelson. Imight have some differences with him but it's not forbidden tohave disagreements in Europe," Sarkozy said at a joint pressbriefing with European Commission President Jose ManuelBarroso.
"It's because we don't debate issues enough in Europe thatwe don't manage to explain what's at stake in Europe."
Last month, Sarkozy accused Mandelson of being partly toblame for Ireland's rejection of a new EU treaty because Irishfarmers were alarmed by his WTO proposals on agriculture.
Mandelson said he was "mystified" by that criticism.
Mandelson was unable to attend Sarkozy's dinner on Tuesdaybecause he was travelling to Marseille to meet trade ministersfrom countries around the Mediterranean, a spokesman said.
Ministers from leading WTO countries are preparing to meetfrom July 21. Without a breakthrough, the round could bedelayed by several more years because of the 2009 change in theU.S. administration.
"This is going to succeed or fail in the coming weeks atthe ministerial meeting in Geneva. Our negotiating strength inEurope comes from our unity," he added. "The person who canmost contribute to that is President Sarkozy."
The Doha round has missed several deadlines as countrieswrangled over how to open each other's markets.
Mandelson's spokesman challenged comments by Sarkozy that aWTO deal would lead to a 20 percent cut in EU farming outputand 100,000 job losses, saying they were based on demands bydeveloping countries that the EU has rejected.
Instead, the latest WTO proposals for freeing up farm tradewould cause a 1.1 percent drop in EU agriculture production anda 2.5 percent fall in employment in the sector by 2014, hesaid.
(Additonal reporting by Peter Graff in London; Writing byWilliam Schomberg; Editing by Giles Elgood)