Mandelson contre le marché libre…

Le Commissaire européen Peter Mandelson est conduit à divers durcissement dans les négociations globales actuellement en phase finale. Mandelson est décrit comme “effaré” par les diverses exigences (“extravagant demands”) des autres pays importants ou groupes de pays dans ces négociations. Cela nous vaut quelques phrases inoubliables du Commissaire, ami de Tony Blair et connu comme un avocat farouche du libre échange et du marché libre, — comme celle-ci à propos de l’agriculture : « I don't believe in a free market in agriculture. »

Après tout, peut-être cela fait-il partie de la valse des étiquettes, où plus personne ne sait qui représente quoi, quelle ligne est défendue par qui, et qu’est-ce que c’est qu’une ligne désormais…

« Europe will not accept “extravagant demands” from trade partners who want to push the EU to make further reductions before a world trade summit next month, the EU's trade chief said Tuesday [29 November]. “We are not prepared to accept the extravagant demands of Brazil and the G-20, the Cairns group of countries, including Australia, or the United States itself,” EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson told EU lawmakers. He warned other countries that more obstacles at WTO talks would risk “everything, including what is on the table already.” “Europe occupies a middle ground on tariff reduction,” he said. “I don't believe the U.S. offer on domestic support and farm subsidies have gone as far as they should in negotiations.” He told the European Parliament's agriculture committee that the U.S. offer on food aid and export credits did not meet commitments made last summer. Mandelson said developing countries were unrealistic to expect total free trade for farm products. “I don't believe in a free market in agriculture,” he said. “If we had a free market ... we'd be in the hands of a relatively small number of producers who could hold us hostage.” »

Mis en ligne le 30 novembre 2005 à 14H45