PARIS, July 4 (AFP): French Prime Minister Francois Fillon vowed yesterday to defend the interests of French farmers at the ongoing World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks.
Fillon said during a state of the nation address that the new French government would "not let negotiations within the WTO work against our agriculture."
Launched in the capital of Qatar, Doha, six years ago, the trade negotiations are deadlocked in part owing to divergences between developed and developing countries on how much to slash farm subsidies.
France is loathe to reduce customs duties on farm products which protect its farmers.
With regard to market access for industrial goods and services, another thorny issue before the WTO, Fillon called for reciprocity on the part of major emerging economies.
"For our industrial and services groups we demand reciprocity," he said.
The French premier also argued for France to be able to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by reserving a portion of public contracts for them, yet another issue being discussed at the WTO.
France to defend farm sector in WTO talks
FE Team | Published: July 05, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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